tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57718384938636638102024-02-21T14:53:11.169+00:00Boyhood Dreams"This is the beginning of something, not the end of anything."Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comBlogger394125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-27002613906836144122010-05-23T14:46:00.005+01:002010-05-23T19:09:47.992+01:00And in the end...This is where Boyhood Dreams comes to an end, then, a day short of the second anniversary of our victory at Wembley that kicked the whole thing off. I've been following the Tigers for 23 years but only ever intended for this blog to exist for as long as Hull City were in the Premier League. The boyhood dream was fulfilled and now it has, for the moment at least, been extinguished. <br /><br />I've loved writing the reports and offering my own banal observations for the last two years but ultimately the interest in a blog on a skint Championship club would be comparatively negligible, plus my own finances mean I'm going to have to pick and choose a bit more as far as attending away matches is concerned.<br /><br />We have a very different era ahead of us now, hopefully one that will restore us, after doubtless a spell of heartache and worry that Hull City always brings, to the Premier League once more. Austerity, integrity and modesty are what we require from all involved in the club now. It's been - oh dear - an astonishing journey to the top, but now we have to try to get there again via slightly less showbiz means and with real football people controlling the club.<br /><br />I hope Boyhood Dreams remains a worthy read as an archive of all that occurred from the day the Tigers won at Wembley. It will stay on the internet with the intention of being such.<br /><br />Thank you for the kind comments, the links, the contributions, the tweets and the complaints. See you at the KC.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-65179986847113611692010-05-17T16:54:00.005+01:002010-05-17T17:00:42.433+01:00Bernard<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszCMNa-1D33Iv6FcHXDOAs_bwKBbp91lY9SFCUY05g_aFsy85q-BtxinOd3HClHhsk-KiKsmfJ9_g7liQYy1uy9UcAGJx5KAeDYMCkUcdYSxO5CuzO1eXZ5i1_rXX67FVXYsVMdy9AIg/s1600/MENDY1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszCMNa-1D33Iv6FcHXDOAs_bwKBbp91lY9SFCUY05g_aFsy85q-BtxinOd3HClHhsk-KiKsmfJ9_g7liQYy1uy9UcAGJx5KAeDYMCkUcdYSxO5CuzO1eXZ5i1_rXX67FVXYsVMdy9AIg/s400/MENDY1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472269299020003826" /></a><br />How to sum up the Hull City career of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/yesterdays-mendy.html">Bernard Mendy</a>? The Frenchman has today triggered a release clause in his contract and exited the club.<br /><br />Well, three words should do it.<br /><br />Frustrating. Entertaining. Barmy.<br /><br />That about condenses it. He'll be missed, if not quite for pure footballing reasons.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-41266706589879404162010-05-13T17:41:00.009+01:002010-05-14T11:37:26.231+01:00And the winner is...The Player of the Year awards took place this week. Here, this blog offers its opinion on who should have received the two biggest awards.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Player of the Season</span>: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/hunt-for-truth.html">Stephen Hunt</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDV18VeoXCOa7GbIx5vaRA4rjBxv6ZKmT-d3B8D-RUmGXHxUslZdr_Cj4gvuZs-yhaWYJut-556K1HbRXmu2Omi9s_M7zkXN18F_2jKJ87hieWanOWRiPE5wyA2JwqQkgxJqyQ88PMAA/s1600/HUUUUUNT.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDV18VeoXCOa7GbIx5vaRA4rjBxv6ZKmT-d3B8D-RUmGXHxUslZdr_Cj4gvuZs-yhaWYJut-556K1HbRXmu2Omi9s_M7zkXN18F_2jKJ87hieWanOWRiPE5wyA2JwqQkgxJqyQ88PMAA/s400/HUUUUUNT.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470805221916295666" /></a><br />It is telling as to Hunt's ability and Hull City's overall gutlessness that he still wins this award, by some distance too, despite having his season ended by a foot injury back in February. Signed from Reading in the summer, the chippy Irish winger settled in immediately on the <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/01-chelsea-2-1-hull-city-15082009.html">opening day against Chelsea</a>, scoring the first goal of the whole Premier League season and, on a performance level, rarely looking back. It was obvious that he possessed the kind of attitude that makes fans love a player, in that he cared not a jot about the ability or reputation of any opponent at all, and would seek to outwit that adversary both through skill and gamesmanship with equal flourish.<br /><br />Hunt proved himself, handily, as an able finisher as well as a tidy supplier of crosses and a merciless extra pair of tackling feet when, as did frequently happen, the going got tough at the other end. He was rarely the starter of any fracas but was always a competitor and often the finisher of such skirmishes; his willingness to dive in and protect his teammates from intimidation and made him all the more admirable, and his footballing talent made his off-ball antics worthwhile and forgivable, despite the bookings that regularly followed.<br /><br />Despite the horror stories of the club's finances that <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam Pearson</a> was revealing in the weeks following his return, the club felt able to fend off repeated bids for Hunt from Wolves, with £5 million certainly nothing to be sniffed at even at a prudent time. Hunt didn't let the speculation trouble him, even scoring <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/23-hull-city-2-2-wolverhampton.html">against Wolves</a> on the penultimate day of the same window.<br /><br />He didn't miss a League game until his worsening foot injury finally forced him out of action <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/28-everton-5-1-hull-city-07032010.html">at Everton</a> in February; six days before he had made <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/27-west-ham-united-3-0-hull-city.html">the trip to West Ham United</a> but couldn't complete the match. A deafening silence followed which frustrated the supporters as it coincided with a shocking run of defeats, before the grim truth that Hunt's season was over finally emerged from the club.<br /><br />While there were hopes of Hunt sticking around over the summer due to his injury and helping the Tigers in the Championship until the club could cash him in, the player himself has revealed he had an agreement that would allow him to leave in the event of demotion. Clubs are likely to take a chance on him despite his need for crutches for some time yet, and we have seen the last of him. His recent revelation that he chose to scold certain members of the first team squad for their lack of application suggested that his appetite for being a winner wasn't just for public consumption, and he will leave the club a hero who, briefly, we were privileged to see.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Highly commended</span>: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/push-boat-out.html">George Boateng</a> - defied his age to fight and fight some more in the midfield right through to the last game. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a> - a simple case of class overriding anything else, as he was handed his favoured central defensive role in January and never looked back.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Goal of the Season</span>: George Boateng, v <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/25-hull-city-2-1-manchester-city.html">Manchester City (h)</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7-amC0YRxVt-AvSThqSQ3KJQOrK7e7PBXPQ3sLJalYpYbinwei3bWfZhmZR2pxuUVVp9nRblvgpAt5kwmO4C8U27-i5y07kA8ikOSKxWQCHiGt2lDBhWHBsI9_c_dzUH26zKhopGRtE/s1600/BOATENGGOAL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7-amC0YRxVt-AvSThqSQ3KJQOrK7e7PBXPQ3sLJalYpYbinwei3bWfZhmZR2pxuUVVp9nRblvgpAt5kwmO4C8U27-i5y07kA8ikOSKxWQCHiGt2lDBhWHBsI9_c_dzUH26zKhopGRtE/s400/BOATENGGOAL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470805632175150770" /></a><br />City were a goal up thanks to <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html">Jozy Altidore</a>'s tidy first half finish against the richest club in the land whose demeanour thus far seemed to suggest they believed it would be merely a question of time before they levelled up and, eventually, won the game. The match was in the early period of the second half when <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/fagans-final-felony.html">Craig Fagan</a> forced a corner which Hunt swung in towards the six yard box.<br /><br />Kolo Toure got a strong header on it and it bounced invitingly for Boateng, loitering on the edge of the area. This was a player who hadn't scored for Hull City, and moreover it was landing on his weaker left foot. But it was simply one of those occasions when the 100th attempt after 99 failures would be the one that mattered. He swung his left foot, got the sweet spot of his instep and the ball flew, true and vicious, through the crowd of bodies and beyond Shay Given's helpless left glove.<br /><br />This made the scoreline 2-0 and although the visitors pulled one back fairly quickly, the Tigers hung on for a victory deemed the most satisfying of the season, because of the performance of the team, the distinguished opposition and the quality of the goal that ultimately decided the outcome.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Highly commended</span>: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a>, v <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/28-everton-5-1-hull-city-07032010.html">Everton (a</a>) - a marvellous tee-up and left foot volley from distance that briefly gave the Tigers hope before an eventual thrashing. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a>, v <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/14-hull-city-3-2-everton-25112009.html">Everton (h)</a> - a simply superb textbook free kick that combined power with curl, dip and astounding accuracy.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-5309928108818014762010-05-12T10:03:00.008+01:002010-05-13T16:48:57.450+01:00The stats of the season<span style="font-weight:bold;">Premier League:</span><br /><br />Final position:<br />19th<br /><br />Home Record:<br />P19, W6, D6, L7, F22, A29, Pts24<br /><br />Away Record:<br />P19, W0, D6, L13, F12, A46, Pts6<br /><br />Longest Unbeaten Sequence:<br />4 games<br /><br />Longest Winless Sequence:<br />9 games<br /><br />Longest Sequence of Victories:<br />1 game<br /><br />Longest Sequence of Draws:<br />2 games<br /><br />Longest Sequence of Defeats:<br />5 games<br /><br />Appearances:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9kHrVvGBckmBs798_HiraJyndKGVCes98hSEyE7GyeXsuogu7oXTNXFL097_DDiepDW9dABJfYnBZtbcPVmawkDVdEofZqIEafB9WlYCN-8YYvygM6Fa5FM3mKeLFEF2B0YRPSQBltM/s1600/DAWWWWWS.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9kHrVvGBckmBs798_HiraJyndKGVCes98hSEyE7GyeXsuogu7oXTNXFL097_DDiepDW9dABJfYnBZtbcPVmawkDVdEofZqIEafB9WlYCN-8YYvygM6Fa5FM3mKeLFEF2B0YRPSQBltM/s200/DAWWWWWS.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470307803959108850" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dawson 35</span>, Hunt 27, Myhill 27, Boateng 26 (3), McShane 26 (1), Gardner 24, Zayatte 21 (2), Fagan 20 (5), Mouyokolo 19 (2), Vennegoor of Hesselink 17 (14), Altidore 16 (12), Geovanni 16 (10), Kilbane 15 (6), Mendy 15 (6), Marney 15 (1), Garcia 14 (4), Bullard 13 (1), Olofinjana 11 (8), Duke 11, Cairney 10 (1), Sonko 9, Folan 7 (1), Barmby 6 (14), Ghilas 6 (7), Turner 4, Zaki 2 (4), Cullen 2 (1), Atkinson 2, Cousin 1 (2), Cooper 1 (1)<br /><br />Goals:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HX3g-LVI3d72Db1Jaf344sZQVigMn9tHyUEMM4jQXeiCjyFSkISkUI0g3xwcC0z7tC5Bkp3QV0Ukd6hHT6BAfkQMF5fMKx_SVs6VxcmHjDWkC7uOnrkluKstSIHZfvlRbLJTp4h2WpA/s1600/HUNTSCORES.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HX3g-LVI3d72Db1Jaf344sZQVigMn9tHyUEMM4jQXeiCjyFSkISkUI0g3xwcC0z7tC5Bkp3QV0Ukd6hHT6BAfkQMF5fMKx_SVs6VxcmHjDWkC7uOnrkluKstSIHZfvlRbLJTp4h2WpA/s200/HUNTSCORES.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470308085802634706" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hunt 6</span>, Bullard 4, Geovanni 3, Vennegoor of Hesselink 3, Fagan 2, Folan 2, Zayatte 2, Altidore 1, Atkinson 1, Boateng 1, Cairney 1, Cullen 1, Dawson 1, Ghilas 1, Kilbane 1, Marney 1, Mouyokolo 1, Olofinjana 1<br /><br />Red Cards:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hbBROJHAjAVuPjMSSm2D_gVRo2DYE7i0aFoUOfzWzSmVbqI231ZpHb6kbp3uNbD9E-L3CindzvmgfnCTGkFaceSNM61sNXXcnro3u051h8A30TuGI5qZGKq-ZV96hbYAt_7HQdYSmic/s1600/BOATENGSENTOFF.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hbBROJHAjAVuPjMSSm2D_gVRo2DYE7i0aFoUOfzWzSmVbqI231ZpHb6kbp3uNbD9E-L3CindzvmgfnCTGkFaceSNM61sNXXcnro3u051h8A30TuGI5qZGKq-ZV96hbYAt_7HQdYSmic/s200/BOATENGSENTOFF.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470308799934978546" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Boateng 2</span> (one straight - later rescinded, one two yellows), Altidore 1 (straight), Fagan 1 (two yellows), Geovanni 1 (two yellows), Mendy 1 (straight)<br /><br />Yellow Cards:<br /><br />Dawson 7, Fagan 6, Altidore 5, McShane 5, Mendy 5, Barmby 4, Hunt 4, Marney 4, Boateng 3, Geovanni 3, Olofinjana 3, Zayatte 3, Kilbane 2, Myhill 2, Atkinson 1, Cairney 1, Duke 1, Folan 1, Gardner 1, Garcia 1, Mouyokolo 1, Turner 1<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">FA Cup:</span><br /><br />Reached:<br />Third Round<br /><br />Games Played:<br />One<br /><br />Appearances:<br />Cairney 1, Garcia 1, Geovanni 1, Ghilas 1, Halmosi 1, Kilbane 1, Mendy 1, Mouyokolo 1, Myhill 1, Vennegoor of Hesselink 1, Zayatte 1, Altidore 0+1, Boateng 0+1, Cullen 0+1<br /><br />Goals:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_sCU3li70INV_seAjs9s9oZZJh9J0QLdK4dXkMEE8oUmgUlG8BkmbivcRf9R2JUHqKGVu2NG7uAshh8ZUtYG3anEWGoV86FyvBSymer7FZXkvFQlxctBnMw9iFzmmJECYMrGCghpcOI/s1600/GEOFREEKICK.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_sCU3li70INV_seAjs9s9oZZJh9J0QLdK4dXkMEE8oUmgUlG8BkmbivcRf9R2JUHqKGVu2NG7uAshh8ZUtYG3anEWGoV86FyvBSymer7FZXkvFQlxctBnMw9iFzmmJECYMrGCghpcOI/s200/GEOFREEKICK.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470310711814103538" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Geovanni 1</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Carling Cup:</span><br /><br />Reached:<br />Third Round<br /><br />Games Played:<br />Two<br /><br />Appearances:<br />Barmby 2, Cairney 2, Cooper 2, Featherstone 2, Halmosi 2, Ghilas 1+1, Altidore 1, Atkinson 1, Boateng 1, Doyle 1, Duke 1, Fagan 1, Mendy 1, Mouyokolo 1, Vennegoor of Hesselink 1, Warner 1, Zayatte 1, Geovanni 0+1<br /><br />Goals:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU35xBxrF0BSdnG8H58fu8zY1ADU-7hZg3XpVTkUFo1AILNE8CNoBcJh05uK4g1PEchbnGKNWucgA9bqNPtQBRomB-QjgyVUyu9L3zwB4kOZ04oKPTrbjV6DiGbPaUjYLtUTV7IAntGo/s1600/JOZYFREEKICK.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 116px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU35xBxrF0BSdnG8H58fu8zY1ADU-7hZg3XpVTkUFo1AILNE8CNoBcJh05uK4g1PEchbnGKNWucgA9bqNPtQBRomB-QjgyVUyu9L3zwB4kOZ04oKPTrbjV6DiGbPaUjYLtUTV7IAntGo/s200/JOZYFREEKICK.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470312120744310162" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Altidore 1</span>, Cairney 1, Geovanni 1Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-49120331005939715712010-05-11T10:32:00.013+01:002010-05-13T18:11:05.157+01:00Where can you shove your Premier League?<div style="text-align: left;">So the Premier League adventure has reached its end, and many of us are rather relieved. Irrespective of the horrors that the financial situation may force upon us over the summer, there is too much about the top tier of English football that is unattractive to the kind of supporter who wants their team to achieve and compete.<br /></div><br />Hull City made up the numbers, and did so quite badly. They weren't alone, and the reality is that while only three teams go down, as many as six probably deserved it. The gap is widening as big, rich clubs get bigger and richer and the smaller, poorer clubs get smaller and poorer. And getting poorer in the name of a meagre 14th place, stagnation, watertreading, free of ambition, simply does not make for football that will earn new supporters and maintain enthusiasm.<br /><br />If the Tigers had achieved mid-table obscurity for a few years, then everybody from the East Riding who wanted to come and see the club would not have been there to support their local team. You only have to look at the evidence of the post-match pitch invasion on Sunday, as many ignored the likes of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/push-boat-out.html">George Boateng</a>, two of probably only half a dozen players who can say they have performed this season, and headed straight for Steven Gerrard instead. A superstar he may be (albeit one who played with his fitness for South Africa in mind) but, the way football now is, smaller clubs are not able to create their own superstars.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a> is a wonderful player, but he will only be a superstar if and when he gets the big move to a top half club that his early promise suggests will happen. Even then, at some clubs he would be a Carling Cup superstar only, and yet being that type of irregularly used player will earn him more money and plaudits thanks to the cockeyed view of the game that the Premier League has created than being a first team definite for Hull City, in either division, would ever manage. Fortunately, right now, it seems Cairney is one who will stick around.<br /><br />The nature of last season's survival meant it was crucial for <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/thank-you-phil.html">Phil Brown</a> to invest wisely with what money we were told we had. It still seemed an adequate sum, for after a worrying delay with next to no activity, he brought in <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html">Jozy Altidore</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/seyi.html">Seyi Olofinjana</a> and then later got <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/hunt-for-truth.html">Stephen Hunt</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/kamel-here.html">Kamel Ghilas</a>. These were exciting signings, and certainly the arrival of Altidore and Ghilas eased a few fluttering hearts given that we were getting closer to starting the new Premier League season without a new centre forward that wasn't inadequate (<a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/folan-victim.html">Caleb Folan</a>) or argumentative (<a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/ditching-dead-wood.html">Daniel Cousin</a>).<br /><br />Mouyokolo, who had been signed in the January but allowed to stay in France until the summer, also reported for duty at his new club and so five new players were in place. We needed a right back, as <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/07/grand-sam.html">Sam Ricketts</a> had most regrettably gone to Bolton Wanderers after a daft disagreement with Brown over the promise of a contract extension, and his unkind words about his former manager to Bolton's local paper provided the first of many critical words about Brown's ability to motivate and get on with his own footballers.<br /><br />August arrived and the television dictated that we would start the season courtesy of a lunchtime kick-off <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/01-chelsea-2-1-hull-city-15082009.html">at Chelsea</a>. City were superb throughout, with Olofinjana showing real bite in the tackle and Hunt instantly becoming a hero thanks to his obvious lack of respect for anyone not on his side, and this against a team with more reason than most to dislike him. So there was poetry as well as sheer joy (not to mention surprise) in Hunt's opening goal, which he tucked away very smartly indeed. Chelsea equalised quickly and then, in a motif that would be repeated way too often through the season, robbed City of at least a share of the points thanks to Didier Drogba fluking a cross-cum-shot in injury time. A desolate feeling but my word, such performances would guarantee many an away win...<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/02-hull-city-1-5-tottenham-hotspur-5.html">Tottenham Hotspur arrived at the KC Stadium</a> for our opening home game three days later and played us off the park with an attacking display that could only be described as magnificent. Hunt scored again for City, and as it was an equaliser it was another goal we could count as crucial, but the eventual 5-1 scoreline did not flatter the visitors at all. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/03-hull-city-1-0-bolton-wanderers.html">Bolton Wanderers at home</a> on the Saturday was more important, and indeed the brief but nippy combination of Altidore and Ghilas up front made the eventual difference, with the American teeing up the Algerian for a fine volley that produced the first win, the first points and the first clean sheet of the season.<br /><br />The first glimpse of Cairney came in the <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/carling-cup-2nd-round-hull-city-3-1.html">Carling Cup tie against Southend United</a>, and the youngster's touch was divine throughout the game against underwhelming opposition whose lowly status was exploited to the full. Altidore scored his first goal for the club with a smart free kick and Cairney chipped a marvellous second as City eventually won 3-1. But trouble was brewing as the transfer window's time was coming to an end and the speculation about star defender <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/turner-and-campbell.html">Michael Turner</a>, our hero and talisman and the player whom every single member of the Tiger Nation adored unconditionally, was growing.<br /><br />Liverpool had taken a look but the big rumour was about Sunderland, and we had the worrying and infuriating combination of City's egotistical chairman <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/mr-chairman.html">Paul Duffen</a> doing all the talking while Brown, presumably allowed to air an opinion, was deathly silent on the matter. Turner had started the season in largely the same impassable form as he had basically shown for the previous two and a half years - Tottenham permitting - but the Tigers seemed almost desperate to sell. Duffen claimed it was about player ambition and Turner's own desire to leave but the reality of both the circumstances, not to mention the fee, would be revealed later in the season. The suggestion that we would get £12 million for him, albeit with a small percentage heading to two London clubs as sell-on payments, could have acted as a minute consolation but ultimately the fee was undisclosed and Turner, after a last hurrah of iconic proportions in a 1-1 draw <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/04-wolverhampton-wanderers-1-1-hull.html">at Wolves</a>, in which <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-man.html">Geovanni</a>'s third minute header provided the only period when the Tigers looked capable of winning, applauded the fans who worshipped his every move and travelled straight up to Wearside.<br /><br />The anger at this sale was further complemented by concern over how short the Tigers would be in the centre of defence. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/gardners-world.html">Anthony Gardner</a> was freshly injured again, although there was an option to move Mouyokolo, who had been at right back, into his natural position once <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/mcshane-central.html">Paul McShane</a> arrived from Sunderland in a deal that was entirely separate to that which took Turner the other way. McShane had been very good during his loan spell the previous year and his acquisition was initially proclaimed as good business. The rawness of Mouyokolo was deemed not suitable, yet, for the Premier League and so <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/window-lean.html">Ibrahima Sonko</a>, a third choice (at best) defender at Stoke City, joined hastily on a season-long loan.<br /><br />Days after the window shut, Brown signed Dutch centre forward <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink</a>, who had been a free agent since leaving Celtic in the summer. Another goalscorer was now available for selection, although Vennegoor of Hesselink's experience was countered by his lack of Premier League knowledge. The great coincidence of the Turner farce came the following weekend when <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/05-sunderland-4-1-hull-city-12092009.html">City travelled to Sunderland</a>. Turner was warmly welcomed by the Wearsiders who won the game at a canter, with <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/zayatte-exit.html">Kamil Zayatte</a>'s equaliser late in the first half proving little more than a consolation in a 4-1 loss during which, inevitably, Turner scored. To his gentlemanly credit, he offered a gesture of apology to the Tiger Nation as the ball hit the net before rightfully heading towards the Sunderland fans to celebrate, and looking around the Tiger Nation there were almost tears of frustration at the whole sorry business. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/fagans-final-felony.html">Craig Fagan</a>'s imbecilic concession of a penalty early on put him in Brown's bad books, subsequently renamed his 'naughty step', and it wouldn't be the first time a player would be over-punished by a wayward manager for damage caused on the pitch.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/06-hull-city-0-1-birmingham-city.html">Birmingham City then visited</a> the KC Stadium and won an awful game with a late header, the first of many truly preventable defeats that would stain the Tigers' season as a whole. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/carling-cup-3rd-round-hull-city-0-4.html">Everton then brought a far stronger than anticipated team to the KC to demolish City's non-existent Carling Cup ambitions</a> by four goals, though Cairney again was impressive.<br /><br />A visit to Liverpool followed, and it was a daunting enough prospect without the team news that filtered around before the game that the already struggling Sonko would be partnered by teenage defender <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/super-cooper.html">Liam Cooper</a>, who had looked tidy and not overawed in the Carling Cup defeat but did not seem ready to face Fernando Torres at his ridiculous best. Cooper, it emerged, was by far the most competent of the two centre backs as Torres ran riot with a hat-trick in a 6-1 win, Geovanni's sumptuous volley bringing only brief respite to the Tiger Nation when still only a goal down.<br /><br />More 'naughty step' inhabitants emerged from that game, with Cousin's briefly good substitute appearance not being indulged further by Brown, while Boateng - one of several captains already during the campaign thanks to the long-term absence of both <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/ash.html">Ian Ashbee</a> and anyone even remotely capable of filling the mighty skipper's boots - also took his leave, quietly seething. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/08-hull-city-2-1-wigan-athletic.html">Wigan Athletic arrived at the KC</a> the following week and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Kevin Kilbane</a> had to play at centre back to allow for Cooper's repositioning in the reserves, Gardner's continued absence through injury and Zayatte's deployment in midfield to cover the chastened Boateng. City won 2-1, with second half goals from Vennegoor of Hesselink and Geovanni proving enough as Wigan scored late in the match and threatened an equaliser to the end.<br /><br />A long rest afterwards was ideally timed as City's <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/09-fulham-2-0-hull-city-19102009.html">trip to Fulham</a> had been put back by 48 hours by television people. In the end it was as unnecessary as you could imagine, with such an abject display angering the supporters whose efforts to get to west London on a school night deserved far more than it produced. Fulham's 2-0 win was one of their easiest and only the sight of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/see-you-jimmy.html">Jimmy Bullard</a> warming up, to a mixed response from the fans he had left behind, offered some long term hope. He came on and immediately showed why he was our trump card, whose fitness and influence should turn our season around. But he couldn't get close to earning us a route back into the match.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/10-hull-city-0-0-portsmouth-24102009.html">Portsmouth, already in serious trouble off the pitch, came to the KC Stadium</a> and the two teams fought out a depressing goalless draw. But then big news emerged off the pitch as Duffen, whose role in budgeting the Tigers' promotion had been severely hampered by his many subsequent acts that alienated supporters, announced he was leaving the club. It seemed the ultimate act of gallantry, in that he was taking responsibility for the team's lack of progress and was, in a nutshell, sacking himself in order to avoid having to sack Brown. The news that broke simultaneously was that <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam Pearson</a>, the greatest chairman in Hull City history, had quit his position at Derby County, allowed many an excited supporter to put two and together and get their sums right.<br /><br />Pearson attended City's game <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/11-burnley-2-0-hull-city-31102009.html">at Burnley</a> amidst strong rumours that upon his official appointment the following Monday, he would dismiss Brown without a moment's thought. Despite the 2-0 defeat at Turf Moor, a game which genuinely went awry for reasons of luck than anything else (Geovanni's perfectly good goal from a free kick being disallowed, and his subsequent plot-losing actions that prompted a red card), Brown stayed put. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/12-hull-city-2-1-stoke-city-08112009.html">Stoke City were due to visit</a> the following weekend before a fortnight's break, so if any decisions were going to be made, it was sensible to make them when games were not on the horizon. And it allowed Brown the chance to impress his returning boss with the benefit of preparation.<br /><br />The alteration was instant. Brown began exercising humility in interviews and some caution in the number of media appearances he gave. His safety blanket had been swiped off him and he knew it. Pearson had made it clear that a win against Stoke would keep Brown afloat for the time being, but behind the scenes the riot act had been read. For the visit of Stoke, Brown recalled Fagan and Boateng from their isolation periods and, as an extra fillip, was able to put Bullard in the starting XI for the first time ever. The transformation was immense, despite Stoke taking a first half lead. Olofinjana curled a stupendous equaliser and then, with Stoke suffering from a sending-off and then a ridiculous re-substitution of their own substitute, City won it in injury time courtesy of Bullard's shot being parried at the feet of Vennegoor of Hesselink. A crucial, deserved, enjoyable and, by now, rare win.<br /><br />The two-week break brought Brown and his squad back to earth as Pearson's wise, blunt words steadied the ship and made it plain what was expected of the team. The unravelling of the club's finances had begun too, with Pearson immediately declaring the gruesome, depressing truth of the Turner deal, which stated that City received only £4 million from Sunderland in the end, which was further reduced by the sell-on fees that were due to Charlton Athletic and Brentford. Duffen had undersold our finest player and potentially ruined our Premier League hopes in doing so, prior to leaving.<br /><br />Still, for all the financial issues that Pearson was still trying to understand, things were looking up on the pitch. Political struggles had been eased, fringe players had been sent out on loan and Bullard was, finally, beginning to show just how valuable he was both as a footballer and as an asset. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/13-hull-city-3-3-west-ham-united.html">West Ham United came to the KC</a> after the football-free fortnight ended, and although they took a 2-0 lead, a Bullard-inspired fightback gave City a 3-2 advantage after a crazy first half. It ended 3-3 but was a genuinely thrilling game and put a little more character into the team.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/14-hull-city-3-2-everton-25112009.html">Everton, already substantial winners at the KC in the Carling Cup, were next to arrive</a> for a midweek fixture, and for this game Bullard was given a medically-necessary rest. It mattered not, as City destroyed their visitors in the first half to go in 3-0 up thanks to Hunt and first goals of the season for <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/hes-bang-on-marney.html">Dean Marney</a>. Everton battled back to 3-2 but the Tigers clung on for a genuinely impressive scalp.<br /><br />So Pearson returns, Brown winds his neck in and Bullard proves his fitness, and suddenly City have claimed seven points from nine, all at home. There was real hope now. A <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/15-manchester-city-1-1-hull-city.html">visit to Manchester City</a> loomed, the scene of where it supposedly all began to go the shape of a pear the season before. City battled and scrapped as the hosts showed their overpaid arrogance in believing it to be a gimme, and Bullard's late penalty earned a fine 1-1 draw and prompted the single most memorable goal celebration in football, which drew Brown's approval.<br /><br />Four games unbeaten now, but form and hope was ripped to shreds <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/16-aston-villa-3-0-hull-city-05122009.html">at Aston Villa</a> when Bullard fell awkwardly and damaged his other knee. He left in tears with the whole stadium's sympathetic applause, and to the Tiger Nation, that felt like a resounding thump back towards square one. Villa won easily, with a <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/01/myhill-or-duke.html">Matt Duke</a> howler leaving James Milner with an open goal for one of their three unanswered strikes.<br /><br />The diagnosis on Bullard wasn't as bad as previous injuries to befall his knees, but nonetheless he was out until at least the end of January. City battled to a goalless draw <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/17-hull-city-0-0-blackburn-rovers.html">against Blackburn Rovers at the KC</a> - a game as chronic as it sounds - and then gallantly performed <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/18-arsenal-3-0-hull-city-19122009.html">against Arsenal at the Emirates</a> despite the referee failing to notice Samir Nasri's appalling stamp on <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/garcias-got-it.html">Richard Garcia</a> that sent the rest of the Tigers team apoplectic. The Gunners led by just one goal by the time Geovanni saw a soft penalty saved and it ended 3-0.<br /><br />Christmas came, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/19-hull-city-1-3-manchester-united.html">as did Manchester United</a> two days on. Wayne Rooney was marvellous in the visitors' 3-1 success as City made the best fight of it that they could, and Fagan's penalty offered hope as well as a long-awaited first goal of the season for City's most divisive performer. Better times would come <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/20-bolton-wanderers-2-2-hull-city.html">at a below-freezing Bolton Wanderers</a> in the Tigers' final game of the decade two days later, when some bad goalkeeping from the recalled <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-myhill-versus-duke-again.html">Boaz Myhill</a> put the Tigers two goals adrift, only for the superb Hunt to score twice in the second half and earn a valuable point. It also prompted the dismissal of Gary Megson as Bolton's manager.<br /><br />The New Year began with a deeply unwanted <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/fa-cup-3rd-round-wigan-athletic-4-1.html">trip to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup</a> which, despite taking an early lead, the Tigers lost 4-1 while football as a whole spat bile at both sets of fans for not turning up. City still took 2,000 which, considering the austere time of year, the freezing winter and the general unattractiveness of the occasion, was a decent following. Cairney and Cooper again used the necessary evils on the fixture list to impress, and by now many were asking why Cairney had yet to feature in a Premier League game, especially with Bullard out.<br /><br />A daunting <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/21-tottenham-hotspur-0-0-hull-city.html">trip to Tottenham Hotspur</a> was next, and we got one of those games that happens sometimes, when you are ritually destroyed and yet escape with a point thanks to a rearguard performance bordering on the insane. How Myhill managed to keep out every single chance Tottenham made for themselves is anyone's guess, but it was a welcome point and, in equal measure, brought out resigned plaudits from a bamboozled Harry Redknapp and dimwitted, spiteful criticism from Spurs fans who believed that a small club's role in the Premier League is to let the illustrious opponent win. No goalless draw, and no goalkeeping performance, will ever evoke the same sort of fond memories.<br /><br />As valuable a point as it was, it was only the Tigers' fourth on the road all season, and still there had been no wins. The next away game was unlikely to alter that, and Rooney again dominated the proceedings with the full quota of goals in <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/22-manchester-united-4-0-hull-city.html">Manchester United's 4-0 win at Old Trafford</a>, though it had been still only 1-0 until the last ten minutes, and we got an all-too-rare performance on the right flank from <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/yesterdays-mendy.html">Bernard Mendy</a> that reminded us just how good he is, and how annoyingly seldom he would choose to show it.<br /><br />Within all this, the fightback against Duffen's regime, heavily criticised in the national press for its profligacy, was really beginning. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/high-court-high-stakes.html">A club statement</a> announced that legal action was to be launched against the former chairman, and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Pearson followed it up with details of the writ</a> - namely that Duffen had used club funds for personal reasons and taken inducements from agents in return for using their services. The reputation of the man who chaired the club during its finest hour had gone from sullied to destroyed, even though no outcome had been reached. What Pearson says, goes. Simple as. Duffen offered denials but ended up repaying some money and settling out of court, increasing Pearson's star even more.<br /><br />On the pitch, the game we were really waiting for was the next one. Bullard's return had been earmarked for <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/23-hull-city-2-2-wolverhampton.html">the visit of Wolves to the KC</a> but beyond that, it was the heavily highlighted 'winnable' game that followed the tough trips that January had given us thus far. Bullard wasn't ready to re-feature and Wolves had certainly failed to read the script, twice coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw. Vennegoor of Hesselink was paired, for the first time, with Altidore up front and the partnership just clicked immediately, with the American setting up the Dutchman for the opening goal. Mouyokolo finally played in the centre of defence and immediately never looked back, while Cairney was also given the Premier League debut he should have had in September. For all the plusses, there was a big minus to the tune of two points. And now the future looked daunting.<br /><br />January had prompted the much-needed departures of several fringe players while ex-Wigan striker <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/amr-cant.html">Amr Zaki</a> was brought in on a short-term basis. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/24-hull-city-1-1-chelsea-02042010.html">Chelsea were on the way to the KC</a> and little expectation was placed on the team's shoulders. As if to prove that pressure might have been welcomed, City fought out a superb 1-1 draw against their mighty opponents, with Mouyokolo scoring the opening goal while his defensive counterpart John Terry, fresh from lurid allegations, had his name chanted for wholly less flattering reasons.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/25-hull-city-2-1-manchester-city.html">Manchester City's visit</a> four days later was equally as daunting but the Tigers went one better. Altidore, now a popular and strong adaptation to Premier League life, finally opened his Premier League account with a smart goal before Boateng also got his first for the the club with probably the best goal of City's season, his stunning shot from the edge of the box hitting the sweet spot of his left foot and finding the net in the blink of an eye. The visitors hauled their way back into the match but it ended 2-1, and so four points had been gleaned from a pair of games expected to yield none.<br /><br />Suddenly, there was expectation to go with the hope that blind loyalty brings. If City could produce displays and results like that against the clubs with the real money, then there had to be equivalent displays against teams more comparable to the Tigers. However, in typical manner, the next two matches were calamitous. Boateng was unjustly sent off <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/26-blackburn-rovers-1-0-hull-city.html">at Blackburn Rovers</a> but it had little effect on a putrid display as the home side won 1-0, then <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/27-west-ham-united-3-0-hull-city.html">at West Ham United</a> a rancid, negative Tigers side were completely destroyed while Fagan had another of his red mist days and got a suitably coloured card for his trouble.<br /><br />A third consecutive awayday followed <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/28-everton-5-1-hull-city-07032010.html">at Everton</a>, and Bullard's return and Cairney's stunning equaliser offered some forlorn hope before the home side romped to a 5-1 win, leaving City with an 11-2 deficit from two trips to Merseyside. This was unacceptable stuff and Brown knew it, and with <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/29-hull-city-1-2-arsenal-13032010.html">Arsenal's trip to the KC</a> next, he realised a change was needed. He ditched the defensive mindset and played 4-4-2, with Cairney's brief contractual struggle providing a timely sacrifice that allowed the still-recovering Bullard to operate in such a system.<br /><br />Arsenal took a first half lead but City equalised through Bullard's penalty after Vennegoor of Hesselink avoided an offside flag and was fouled in the box. Then Boateng was sent off, this time entirely correctly, for a high challenge and a subsequent spot of eye-poking that was more conducive to the oval ball game. With ten men, a 1-1 scoreline and the fact that it was Arsenal, the second half was hardly anticipated with eagerness. But what followed was a Herculean display of fight and spirit that was only ruined when Myhill misjudged a swerving injury time shot from Denilson and batted it straight to Nicklas Bendtner for a heart-shattering 94th minute winner. Yet even in defeat, the praise for City was long and adulatory and much-deserved. There seemed to be little doubt that this sort of performance against smaller teams, were the motivation in place, would get the points required for survival.<br /><br />Then on the Monday, Brown was fired.<br /><br />Put on gardening leave, to be precise. On a national level, the decision was scorned and criticised to high heaven for its dual sense of mistiming, coming as it did with only nine games left of a relegation-threatened season and immediately after a quite stunning act of defiance against Arsenal. Bendtner's goal probably made Pearson's decision easier, as had the game ended in the morally correct 1-1 draw that seemed to be its destiny, firing Brown would have exuded an even more explosively derisory response.<br /><br />Put simply, Pearson had been researching the dreadful financial state of the club further and knew Brown had to be out of the club before any kind of authority began to do its own research. That was the received wisdom from what was, on the face of it, a baffling decision. Brown's overall record and demeanour since October 2008 had been dreadful, but there did seem to be a change in his attitude and his treatment of the players since his pal Duffen had left the club. Naturally, the media-hungry Duffen declared himself available as a talking head to all and sundry upon the news of Brown's release from duty. Meanwhile, Pearson needed to get his new manager in place.<br /><br />And so in came <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a>, an articulate and intelligent man but not a coach or motivator with a record that suggested he was a better option than Brown. What he did have was a lack of ego, a realisation that he was fortunate to be asked and no baggage at all on a personal front, though the part he played in a number of relegations in his previous career did not warm his choice to the Tiger Nation. He brought his own coaching team with him, jettisoning the unlucky <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/11/brian-bites-back.html">Brian Horton</a> but keeping <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/trust.html">Steve Parkin</a>, largely due to Parkin's own dogged refusal to take a pay-off.<br /><br />Dowie prepared his squad for <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/30-portsmouth-3-2-hull-city-20032010.html">an enormous trip (and not just in mileage) to Portsmouth</a>, a club long since doomed and playing for sympathy and FA Cup progression only. His first double-take act was to put Folan in the team, a player who had returned crocked from a loan spell with Middlesbrough and whose relationship with Brown was untenable even beyond Pearson's mediating stance. Folan hadn't played for City since the autumn and hadn't scored since the opening day of the whole Premier League adventure, and yet managed to score twice as City led 2-1 with five minutes left. A brilliant free kick robbed us of all three points; a horrific Garcia mistake moments later gifted the home side all three. It was beyond all satire to see City lose from such a glorious winning position.<br /><br />Feeling let down by everyone at the club, the Tiger Nation contemplated relegation but there was still a game in hand to consider and other teams were still losing with similar regularity, if not as comedically. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/31-hull-city-2-0-fulham-27032010.html">Fulham, refreshingly chasing European silverware instead of points, brought a second-string squad to the KC</a> and City won 2-0 thanks to Bullard's penalty and Fagan's looping header. Dowie had dropped Folan, despite his two-goal haul, and recalled Altidore, while also bringing back Sonko from months in the cold (deservedly) because of severe defensive shortages. City played cohesively and with some optimism and deserved the win and clean sheet.<br /><br />That this worried relegation rivals was obvious as West Ham made a self-important complaint to the FA over Fulham's team selection when their own house needed to be put in order first. Dowie had his first win and punched the air for the Tiger Nation to acknowledge it.<br /><br />A trip to Stoke City was next and Dowie fatefully put the long-underperforming McShane at centre back to account for Sonko's ineligibility and, worse still, dropped Altidore for the wretched Folan. McShane made a child-like error to gift Stoke a very early opener, and although City huffed and puffed through the rest of the game, an equaliser looked most unlikely and Stoke got a second in injury time.<br /><br />Still, it was only <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/33-hull-city-1-4-burnley-10042010.html">Burnley next</a>. They, like the Tigers, had not won away all season and were in far greater trouble than their hosts although by now all the smart money suggested that both of these sides would join Portsmouth in the Championship the following season. But a City win, widely predicted, would give West Ham and Wigan some real food for thought. Naturally, the team with no away wins came to the KC and won, and won easily too. The 1-4 reversal was the lowest moment by some distance within a season made up of plenty of low moments, and nobody doubted City's fate now. Kilbane had scored after three minutes to give the Tigers the advantage; the subsequent showing suggested that they believed 87 minutes against Burnley when a goal to the good would be a doddle. Burnley walked it.<br /><br />Dowie's negativity continued <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/34-birmingham-city-0-0-hull-city.html">at Birmingham City</a>, whose excellent season had rendered them more than safe and despite their own thoughts of a summer holiday, they were able to keep out a City side that stuck with 4-5-1 even with substitutions. It was a glorious chance that was completely squandered. The <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/35-hull-city-0-2-aston-villa-21042010.html">arrival of Aston Villa</a> and their particularly grotesque cynicism ruined the debenture of City's game in hand that had existed since Villa's appearance at the Carling Cup final had prompted their trip to the KC to be rearranged, and their 2-0 win was achieved at half-pace with some City performances - McShane, Kilbane, Fagan - bordering on the criminal.<br /><br />So it was all, probably, down to <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/36-hull-city-0-1-sunderland-24042010.html">Sunderland, who were next at the KC</a> and would effectively relegate the Tigers if they won and West Ham did likewise. An early Darren Bent goal and a penalty miss from a now scandalously disinterested Bullard made sure that was the case. Goal difference issues were preventing the mathematicians from relegating the Tigers on a technicality, but City were down. And they thoroughly deserved it.<br /><br />The season ended with <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/05/37-wigan-athletic-2-2-hull-city.html">a 2-2 draw at Wigan Athletic</a>, with <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/carling-cup-2nd-round-hull-city-3-1.html">Will Atkinson</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/fa-cup-3rd-round-wigan-athletic-4-1_03.html">Mark Cullen</a> both scoring on their full Premier League debuts but an injury time equaliser robbing the Tigers of their final hope for an away win. The <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/05/38-hull-city-0-0-liverpool-09052010.html">0-0 draw against Liverpool at the KC</a> that completed the fixture list served merely to show how good Cairney and Cullen could be in the Championship next season, and how much some of the mercenaries needed to be shipped out of the club for ethical as well as financial reasons. Burnley's last day win over Tottenham meant that the Tigers finished below them in a sorry 19th place, with £800,000 or so lost as a consequence.<br /><br />A lot of players will leave in the summer and a lot of managers will be discussed before Pearson make his decision. He ultimately has to either prevent administration or, at worst, guide the club through a short period of administration before any decision on who will pick the team next season will be made. Instinct dictates that Dowie probably doesn't deserve it but may yet be the best of a bad bunch, and anyone who thinks Brown will return is not appreciating just how much he and Pearson will struggle to work together again.<br /><br />Many players deserve to go, some because they are worthy of Premier League football, some because they cost far too much for what they (don't) provide, some because they aren't good enough as footballers, whatever their status as human beings or earners. The Premier League adventure is over and there are a lot of people, this blogger included, who simply will not miss it. You expect your club to lose touch with you when things are rough in the lower reaches of football, but when it happens during its most high-profile period, you know the game has gone wrong somewhere.<br /><br />Bring on the Championship, the seven (so far) local derbies, the gifted kids, the inexpensive clubmen led by Ashbee and backed by Myhill and Dawson, and the chairman (now Head of Football Operations, for reasons of potential administration) who, this time, will know that bankrolling the club is not what he is there for. There is more trouble ahead but even if we are skint and ten points down come the first Saturday of August sunshine, it'll feel far better on that day to be a Hull City supporter than it has for any of the last 18 months and more.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-57225392601711437662010-05-10T13:26:00.011+01:002010-05-10T14:05:39.926+01:0038: Hull City 0 - 0 Liverpool - 09/05/2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17lFSwoCFDD5QssBpUMDgYYqAr5S708GhR3LdXZZZHJedNEETx4ECzkYCXlbe5uCc5MNrQFJtANKn0P13X287UMsjUfcOdZ0W4f5Tt222z35822OEa0Qvj30nnZ-T4A5-Qw-r1OLPsIw/s1600/09052010201.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17lFSwoCFDD5QssBpUMDgYYqAr5S708GhR3LdXZZZHJedNEETx4ECzkYCXlbe5uCc5MNrQFJtANKn0P13X287UMsjUfcOdZ0W4f5Tt222z35822OEa0Qvj30nnZ-T4A5-Qw-r1OLPsIw/s400/09052010201.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469625237913110146" /></a><br />Celebration in defeat and in relegation. Two years in the top tier remains two years more than we had ever managed previously, and despite the poor season and poorer finances, Hull City used the final Premier League game of the season as a cue to remember just how fortunate we have been.<br /><br />That said, the many who sang unkind words about the experience of top tier have a point. It feels like as much of a relief to go down as it is a disappointment; indeed, a season in the Championship with a team reconstructed on an austere, back to basics policy, filled with exuberant youngsters and older stagers and not riddled with mercenaries who exploited an irresponsible chairman's starstruck ambition to almost bankrupt the club.<br /><br />It'll start straightaway, with rumours circulating about various players leaving for pastures new, and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam Pearson</a> claiming in his programme notes that some early business in the summer with both the debts and the squad could give the Tigers a proper footing as far as the start of the new campaign is concerned. The players who wandered slowly, some gingerly, around the pitch to wave to the supporters were saying a real goodbye, not offering meagre wishes for a good summer.<br /><br />The game? Goalless, obviously, but not guileless. City, unchanged, were very good, Liverpool played like a team who were more anxious than most to get this irritant of a fixture out of the way and think about the future. Liverpool should still have won but City had their moments and thanks to the adolescent triumvirate of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/fa-cup-3rd-round-wigan-athletic-4-1_03.html">Mark Cullen</a>, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/carling-cup-2nd-round-hull-city-3-1.html">Will Atkinson</a>, the fans had reason to keep alert and maintain their interest and encouragement.<br /><br />Cairney was fabulous. Cullen also played marvellously. These two will be so important next season. But fortunately there were other good displays from City's establishment too, with <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a> playing his best game of the season and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/yesterdays-mendy.html">Bernard Mendy</a> having one of those eccentric romps that make you wish, one more time, that he wasn't such an inconsistent waster and headcase.<br /><br />Liverpool had the first chance in crazy circumstances when Ryan Babel's low ball across the edge of the box was cut out by a backtracking Cairney, whose spooned clearance very nearly beat <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/that-keeper-issue-again.html">Matt Duke</a>, striking the stanchion behind the goal and making Liverpool's full compliment of travelling fans believe, momentarily, that it was a rather spectacular own goal. Nabil El Zhar then hit a shot from distance that Duke reached only via a fingertip stretch.<br /><br />From the corner, El Zhar volleyed a clearance goalwards into the ground and Dirk Kuyt got a flick which beat Duke but was headed over by the bar by <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/push-boat-out.html">George Boateng</a>, sturdy and heroic as the last line of defence. Alberto Aquiliani then hit a low volley inches wide on what was a disappointing day for Liverpool's big enigma.<br /><br />City made an opportunity when <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink</a> headed a Dawson free kick straight at Jose Reina. Dawson then followed up his delivery with a stunning bit of touchline ballwinning, with his cross cleared to Cairney. His shot took a deflection and went straight at Cullen who, despite his brilliant position in front of goal, couldn't get the ball under proper control and it ricocheted through to Reina. Atkinson then crossed from the right for Cullen to head just wide. <br /><br />So, chances traded and possession traded equally too. It wasn't amazing football, and neither team were drizzled in enthusiasm, but it was a jolly, spirited occasion nonetheless. Aquilani hit the crossbar from a melee in the City box with Daniel Agger spannering the rebound high and wide as the half petered out. Liverpool had the chances but City matched them for possession and spirit.<br /><br />City were dominant after the restart, with Vennegoor of Hesselink touching on a wicked Mendy cross and Cullen was a stud's length from sliding the ball in at the far post. Mendy then chose to hit a shot from probably 40 yards out that was bending and well-aimed and would have been the goal of the season had Reina not seen it late and got a full glove on it. It was an extraordinary shot and a fine save.<br /><br />Aquilani and Kuyt boh missed with distant snapshots and then <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-man.html">Geovanni</a>, on for the resourceful <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Kevin Kilbane</a>, swiped a free kick into the wall, with Dawson also not managing to defeat a wall when another kick was given two minutes later in a similarly dangerous position.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/fagans-final-felony.html">Craig Fagan</a> came on for Vennegoor of Hesselink as City looked to use more pace on the tiring Liverpool defence but afterwards City could create little more as a result, with Cairney slapping one goalwards from long range that Reina chose to double fist away.<br /><br />Liverpool turned it on in the last ten minutes. Substitute Dani Pacheco's cross was pawed out by Duke and the superb <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a> cleared before a Liverpool boot could finish the job. Steven Gerrard, quiet and yet influential, then put a shot just wide from the edge of the area.<br /><br />City were distracted by a cloud of pink smoke from some contraption released by a Liverpool supporter as Gerrard broke away but Boateng and Mouyokolo combined with timing and no little desperation to stop him shooting. Cullen then fed off Geovanni's wide ball and hit a fine drive over Reina and also just over the bar, with real confidence and instinct that we should enjoy next season.<br /><br />Three minutes were added and Gerrard hit the post in that time, with Pacheco also having a cross shot palmed clear by Duke. The woodwork aside, it felt like a goalless draw throughout and that's exactly what it became.<br /><br />So, season over and the fun and games behind the scenes begin. The chairman has to sort out the finances, attract investment, reduce the asphyxiating wage bill and appoint a manager. He needs to call all of these things correctly to give Hull City the chance to return to the Championship on something close to an even keel.<br /><br />For the Premier League and all its attractions, there will be plenty who will prefer the more authentic, less cynical world of the Championship, a division that can provide a club with ambitions sprinkled with glory rather than just trying to hold one's own in mid-table in a division that is riddled with cliques, mini-leagues and only entertains those who are neutral or seeking trophies. That rules out a lot of sides. Of course Hull City want to go back there, but next time we will do so in a manner that allows us to progress and glow gradually, sensibly, cautiously.<br /><br />It has been the best trip we've ever been on. The next one will be even better though. And wiser.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hull City</span>: Duke, Mendy, Dawson, Mouyokolo, Gardner, Boateng, Cairney, Kilbane (Geovanni 76), Atkinson, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Fagan 84), Cullen. Subs not used: Myhill, Cooper, McShane, Olofinjana, Barmby.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Liverpool</span>: Reina, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Aquilani (Pacheco 73), Mascherano, Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt, Babel (Robinson 87), El Zhar (Ngog 62). Subs not used: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Degen, Ayala.</span>Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-13386026220118545622010-05-07T21:32:00.007+01:002010-05-07T21:46:10.751+01:00Money for Marney<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyExUZISJWVWf8TeCWCGTrpTKfNxml3hJGc6JWxhaUzmaFwo91SDCeW1gndXvAH9YHlQPimTaJoob4FsBqTeKkjXv98zADwSfFYJsGGKhkW6oYStd6XFzIN07OTGdYoKwJ5Y1ZozhxgY/s1600/MAAAAAARNEY.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyExUZISJWVWf8TeCWCGTrpTKfNxml3hJGc6JWxhaUzmaFwo91SDCeW1gndXvAH9YHlQPimTaJoob4FsBqTeKkjXv98zADwSfFYJsGGKhkW6oYStd6XFzIN07OTGdYoKwJ5Y1ZozhxgY/s320/MAAAAAARNEY.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468632140849602322" /></a><br />It seems peculiar that one of the players who could have been both useful and affordable in the Championship should be the first one to leave Hull City in the summer, but ultimately everyone has their price.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/hes-bang-on-marney.html">Dean Marney</a>, a perennial underachiever but certainly a fine player when the wind blows correctly, seems set to join Burnley as soon as the transfer window re-opens.<br /><br />The money quoted is £1 million, which certainly would come in more than useful as <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam Pearson</a>'s huge cost-cutting campaign for the summer to cope with the financial madnesses of his predecessor and the shortfall caused by relegation hits home.<br /><br />Marney has had four seasons with the Tigers and for most of that time he has failed to convince. Yet there was a three-month spell at the start of the Premier League adventure when he formed part of a three-man midfield that seemed, somehow, to click so brilliantly that the Tigers looked capable of conquering the world.<br /><br />There is energy and passion within Marney's make-up and despite his limitations and some howls of derision from the Tiger Nation, he has also never hidden from his responsibilities and everyone knows that he is a far better footballer than he has mostly shown. That's the chief frustration. He perhaps won't be missed as readily as <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/07/grand-sam.html">Sam Ricketts</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/turner-and-campbell.html">Michael Turner</a> have been - they are the other two major signings <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/12/mackem-suffer.html">Phil Parkinson</a> was allowed to make in his short period in charge - but getting a midfielder of his virtues, if not his skills, will be harder than imagined.<br /><br />And with every other midfielder with the probable exceptions of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/ash.html">Ian Ashbee</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a> being almost flaunted in the windows of the KC Stadium for passing clubs to purchase, certainly reinforcements will be needed. Beggars can't be choosers, and in an ideal world other players would have been shipped out before anyone had come in for Marney.<br /><br />If he does go, he'll be missed by this blogger, if mainly for his brand of honest endeavour and his admirable method of trying to gain and maintain confidence by constantly looking for the next ball.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-26420171420477906202010-05-06T09:39:00.018+01:002010-05-06T10:06:45.334+01:00The fire sale (part two)The fire sale is due, so here's our assessment of the worthiness of the rest of the Tigers squad...<br /><br />19: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a></span><br />Genuinely sorry to say that he must go, simply because he is way too good for the Championship and has youth and exuberance of the type that half a dozen Premier League clubs would want dearly.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"></span>Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />20: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/push-boat-out.html">George Boateng</a></span><br />Has opened his mouth a fair bit lately, but some of us interpret that as a sign of passion and responsibility, while his recent performances have, in the main, exhibited real desire to succeed. Out of contract in the summer and may not be interested in negotiating downwards, but of the bigger earners he is one who might, might be worth trying to persuade.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />21: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/see-you-jimmy.html">Jimmy Bullard</a></span><br />Not so much whether to keep him, more a case of whether anyone else will have him. His knees are made of glass, his attitude has been suspect at best and age and ego are not on his side either. He must go, but if he does stay at least he should be the best player by a mile in the Championship, assuming he can be bothered to prove it.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />22: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/hes-bang-on-marney.html">Dean Marney</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-W_x-j-SE-87JHRlmc1QoVP589vbDMzp8p4ukt5FzXXY0l2QcszPKOV5bO3XrLlPmqxeSVY_YrKmSzYAMryXEll6x4QazI1o7psz43diNT_08hfnepemJX4d_X0zyzliVLnB330K65Q/s1600/MARRRRRRNEY.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-W_x-j-SE-87JHRlmc1QoVP589vbDMzp8p4ukt5FzXXY0l2QcszPKOV5bO3XrLlPmqxeSVY_YrKmSzYAMryXEll6x4QazI1o7psz43diNT_08hfnepemJX4d_X0zyzliVLnB330K65Q/s320/MARRRRRRNEY.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468079360922649298" /></a><br /><br />Forever the underachiever and has recently been out of favour but he has workrate, Championship experience and longevity with the club on his side. If he can play in the second tier like he did in the first three months of the Premier League, we'll have a player.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />23: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/kamel-here.html">Kamel Ghilas</a></span><br />A true waste of everyone's time and Hull City's money, though the lack of real explanation as to why an international player hoping to feature at the World Cup has been so conspicuous by his absence remains baffling. Must have some ability to go with his obvious pace, but his wages and general lack of favour suggests we may never find out.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />24: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/zayatte-exit.html">Kamil Zayatte</a></span><br />Could be the biggest sale of the lot. A gifted and popular defender who can play a bit, and only the odd comical gaffe has blotted his copybook since arriving. The agent who has been trying to sell him for months now can actually do so.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />25: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/ditching-dead-wood.html">Daniel Cousin</a></span><br />He could score goals in the Championship but the risk when considering his mighty wage and tendency to strop suggests that making his loan move to the sunshine permanent, or making any other move permanent, would be the best thing for everyone.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />27: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/carling-cup-2nd-round-hull-city-3-1.html">Nicky Featherstone</a></span><br />Will never be a fully-fledged first teamer and yet, after many years of never threatening to leave the fringes, has just signed a new one-year deal, possibly just to make sure that those who can be afforded long-term are retained first and foremost, but if and when things settle down, he should be allowed to move on.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />28: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/window-lean.html">Ibrahima Sonko</a></span><br />He isn't ours, and should never have been. One assumes the haste and carelessness that came with the wretched deal in August did not include first refusal on a permanent move. Even in poverty, City can do better.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Release</span><br /><br />29: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QdjF48kjEzTrGVFJbLjiyWSzXhFMxs25Xu4kW0_CK22OqAo0Vq_el6cihgKydFjD13TCDz1zoxnUOy3LnukacpeeTo6RsRLlNJmKtl6p739Qksu6LP0Ap5esxc9ldVi8n6dWIY7uqCU/s1600/JVOH2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QdjF48kjEzTrGVFJbLjiyWSzXhFMxs25Xu4kW0_CK22OqAo0Vq_el6cihgKydFjD13TCDz1zoxnUOy3LnukacpeeTo6RsRLlNJmKtl6p739Qksu6LP0Ap5esxc9ldVi8n6dWIY7uqCU/s320/JVOH2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468079586234069090" /></a><br /><br />Earns too much but is a rare example of someone evidently trying to justify the outlay. Could be a brilliant guide and inspiration for the younger players coming through if he can be persuaded to sign a deal on reduced terms.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />31: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/carling-cup-2nd-round-hull-city-3-1.html">Will Atkinson</a></span><br />Had impressed nobody on his few fleeting appearances in cup competitions over the last three seasons but his recent Premier League introduction will restore interest in him from within the club and will be retained and indulged just for the sake of bodies in the squad, though maybe now he has more hope.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />34: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Mark Oxley</span><br />A goalkeeper we know next to nothing about, but one day one of the two senior keepers will be injured and somebody needs to be available to provide back up.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />35: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/super-cooper.html">Liam Cooper</a></span><br />Only injury has stopped him replicating the success of other youth products among the City squad, but already has proved his potential and promise to the extent that two or even three senior centre backs could be sold and City would still not need worry.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />36: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Jamie Devitt</span><br />Never played for the first team, but two genuinely impressive loan spells in the bottom division this season suggest he has the ability to perform at Championship level, and certainly he should get his chance.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />44: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/seyi.html">Seyi Olofinjana</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelr1pTPcLOCsSs3fcZjZgmt7Fwqls-90MRO1-hagXwPtCanTg4N0-XFSsSNOsgkc-9y-syTGHyrNf6KpPsFI1Qcznzetv3mOurJolgIJBdJVR1DRzsDSlYGQBKrmq4eERyAG3fFuUWfQ/s1600/OLOFINJANA2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelr1pTPcLOCsSs3fcZjZgmt7Fwqls-90MRO1-hagXwPtCanTg4N0-XFSsSNOsgkc-9y-syTGHyrNf6KpPsFI1Qcznzetv3mOurJolgIJBdJVR1DRzsDSlYGQBKrmq4eERyAG3fFuUWfQ/s320/OLOFINJANA2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468080089114189794" /></a><br /><br />Would be a useful and dominant presence in the Championship but international ambitions and his own wages may prompt his departure, while he has never quite proved himself enough to either manager to suggest he is worth clinging on to.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />45: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a></span><br />As much of a no-brainer as anyone else. The best footballer to emerge from City's ranks for probably three generations and even though richer clubs will have spotted him and may even bid, City should hold on to him for dear life and build a team around him until or unless someone offers to clear the debt in return for his talent.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span>Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-19478597889673685232010-05-05T16:19:00.017+01:002010-05-05T17:15:27.973+01:00The fire sale (part one)It's well documented that Hull City need to get shut of several big earners, irrespective of their ability or attitude, in order to close just a little bit of the yawning financial vacuum currently threatening to send the Tigers into administration over the summer. So, over the next two days, let's have a look at the whole squad and see where these cuts can be made...<br /><br />1: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-myhill-versus-duke-again.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Boaz Myhill</span></a><br />Despite some hefty and largely over-the-top criticism of late, Myhill is still as good a goalkeeper as a club of City's standing can expect to attract, and he has experience, love of the club and relative cheapness to his advantage. His current status as substitute goalkeeper will be as temporary as the previous ones.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />3: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Andy Dawson</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MLVJH5duUDnrZPVpf_4Jd1xaBI16mg4FqbDjDK_xJA7zFet15CzgqCZcdlMLunNDtIzrruMBIztZnnY6AnZWLW6e-nY5Dm3IJrks-QRxTKsgFL5e7tKEOHhEA8CDB1-NYHKFZ8j-zqs/s1600/DAWSONNNN.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MLVJH5duUDnrZPVpf_4Jd1xaBI16mg4FqbDjDK_xJA7zFet15CzgqCZcdlMLunNDtIzrruMBIztZnnY6AnZWLW6e-nY5Dm3IJrks-QRxTKsgFL5e7tKEOHhEA8CDB1-NYHKFZ8j-zqs/s320/DAWSONNNN.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467817268466898130" /></a><br /><br />Has occasionally looked like the lower division player he was much for his career, but is experienced, low-maintenance, utterly dedicated and more than adequate at Championship level.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />4: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/ash.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ian Ashbee</span></a><br />Providing he is fit, the question about whether to keep the greatest skipper in the club's history is an evident no-brainer.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />5: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/gardners-world.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Anthony Gardner</span></a><br />He came from Spurs and therefore can't be on a low wage, but one wonders if his injury record and general level of performance can attract a bidder. If not, then the question may depend on whether he had a relegation clause inserted into his contract. Beggars can't be choosers, however, and if a lower-half Premier League club comes in with a sum of money he must be allowed to leave.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />6: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/mcshane-central.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Paul McShane</span></a><br />Fits the double negative of these troubled times better than any other player in the squad - earns too much and not good enough. Again, one wonders if anyone would care to bid for him. Could still be useful in the Championship but his wages are a real problem.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />7: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/fagans-final-felony.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Craig Fagan</span></a><br />The Championship is his level, at best, and despite the chippiness overriding - and sometimes complete hiding - any genuine footballing ability, he is an inexpensive, committed and useful performer when his head is right.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />8: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/barmby-no-more.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Nick Barmby</span></a><br />Despite his illustrious career he won't be on a fortune, and it's a question that will need to be answered soon as he is out of contract in the summer. His commitment and popularity will never be questioned, but at 36 he is showing definite signs of slowing down, and if he doesn't choose to retire, someone may be forced into a very awkward decision.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Release</span><br /><br />9: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jozy Altidore</span></a><br />Only gets mentioned as he is still technically a City player, even though he is essentially a dead duck as his red card against Sunderland ended his season and, given that Villareal want £6 million that we have no chance of paying, we are very unlikely to see him again. Fun while it lasted, and if he can work on his anticipation up front he'll be a good goalscorer for someone.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Release</span><br /><br />10: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-man.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Geovanni</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKVR3oT92XR57dbHbpSw6zun4NTQ8bA-cna9qydvA6qOV5ZZHhVlWhgdTKv3A93Ekv6iXwsdhPpNrlGiUKphGijCm-OBHKyRvqqaLhGUTloIHZ3IGxD9rSWiFn_boUTezIPPivkc1J2U/s1600/GEOVANNNNNNNNNNNNNI.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKVR3oT92XR57dbHbpSw6zun4NTQ8bA-cna9qydvA6qOV5ZZHhVlWhgdTKv3A93Ekv6iXwsdhPpNrlGiUKphGijCm-OBHKyRvqqaLhGUTloIHZ3IGxD9rSWiFn_boUTezIPPivkc1J2U/s320/GEOVANNNNNNNNNNNNNI.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467817668926781010" /></a><br /><br />Tough one. His wages will be high without being astronomical and if he does hang around, the Championship will be his to dominate. But his attitude has been poor in the latter half of this season and there is the obvious danger that could extend into the new season. A club in the lower reaches of the Premier League should want him.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />11: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/hunt-for-truth.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Stephen Hunt</span></a><br />If one can assume high wages can ever be justified, then Hunt comes closest to proving it. Brilliant until his foot injury ended his season, that very injury means that few teams will look at him until he is fit again, by which time the Tigers will hopefully get three months out of him before January prompts his departure.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />12: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/that-keeper-issue-again.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Matt Duke</span></a><br />We've had the same two goalkeepers for a long time now, and although Duke is the current first-choice stopper, he isn't the best keeper at the club. But his attitude his spot on and, of course, his background means his wages will be manageable for a good while to come. If a League One team wants him to be first choice then there'd be no harm in letting him go but otherwise there's no urgency at all.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />13: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/fa-cup-3rd-round-wigan-athletic-4-1_03.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mark Cullen</span></a><br />One start, one goal, one of a few very bright prospects for the future on whose shoulders the revival of the club will be placed. His youth, plus his goalscoring record in the reserves, might prompt a few sniffs from bigger clubs but for now he is very much ours for keeps.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />14: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/garcias-got-it.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Richard Garcia</span></a><br />Out of contract this summer and with little known dialogue taking place about renewal, the Australian may have played his last game for the club. However, he did have bright moments in the Premier League to go with the mainly disappointing periods, and he was quality in the Championship both for the Tigers and previously with Colchester.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Renegotiate</span><br /><br />15: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/yesterdays-mendy.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Bernard Mendy</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcSQbWtcyYHpJp3Wdrxoo3qds147KC6oRjvbcTAef36mL43A6l92tlpcxgDiwuhxrK7jOcEiEDyAuRdwp9l8ZeqFGpQWUJzx66r7uDwVhOz_CVJXKX1BCPLCEP0ranWTqWvUM0x1FAK0/s1600/MENDYYYYYY.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcSQbWtcyYHpJp3Wdrxoo3qds147KC6oRjvbcTAef36mL43A6l92tlpcxgDiwuhxrK7jOcEiEDyAuRdwp9l8ZeqFGpQWUJzx66r7uDwVhOz_CVJXKX1BCPLCEP0ranWTqWvUM0x1FAK0/s320/MENDYYYYYY.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467818176954719442" /></a><br /><br />The great enigma, probably the most naturally gifted footballer at the club but with a stinking attitude that he gets away with thanks to eccentricities and a tendency to applaud the fans for self-aware long periods after games. He will have suitors from the Premier League and abroad, and the Tigers must cash in.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />16: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/h-h.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Peter Halmosi</span></a><br />An outright failure since the day he arrived, and still has two years left on his contract. Yet he is clearly a gifted winger when circumstances allow, and it was his terrific performances in the Championship that tempted City to buy him in the first place. Home in Hungary on loan now but due back, and preferably to stay.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />17: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Kevin Kilbane</span></a><br />He has simply never looked remotely good enough while, presumably, picking up a decent wage considering his Premier League pedigree and colossal tally of international caps. Again, one has to ask who would want him but there should be someone somewhere.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Sell</span><br /><br />18: <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/folan-victim.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Caleb Folan</span></a><br />A player simply not good enough for the Premier League but who has cheapness, at the very least, on his side as we drop down. If the more affluent strikers leave and there isn't much in the pot to get anyone in, we may be left with no choice. He did partially succeed in the Championship but was still upstaged by two other centre forwards.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict: Keep</span><br /><br />Part two tomorrow.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-12702744539505156042010-05-04T10:58:00.010+01:002010-05-04T11:55:10.163+01:0037: Wigan Athletic 2 - 2 Hull City - 03/05/2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiPZyfZh1b_YKwJh-z-4hDVCTBNBlH4sexxptcRoR_b6I_7xrhlLZRDXl82ojMaBERrxQnmkjc45KLaIQzLJX6viMUGR1rrxL6ZrFsDBDm9G8YHsF0pQYddAi4gwtlvXPc5lb4VR3Q4w/s1600/04052010172.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiPZyfZh1b_YKwJh-z-4hDVCTBNBlH4sexxptcRoR_b6I_7xrhlLZRDXl82ojMaBERrxQnmkjc45KLaIQzLJX6viMUGR1rrxL6ZrFsDBDm9G8YHsF0pQYddAi4gwtlvXPc5lb4VR3Q4w/s400/04052010172.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467363986165046786" /></a><br />Though it merely confirmed what we already knew, this single point was insufficient to at least prevent the big black 'R' from appearing next to the great name of Hull City for at least another week. Relegation is now rubberstamped, and although even the victory by ten goals that the Tiger Nation self-mockingly sang for throughout this game still wouldn't have done any good, it feels like a relief.<br /><br />Galling, however, was that the Tigers didn't deserve to be relieved of two points in this game, and yet again it was an injury time goal that broke City's hearts. A team with a healthy and positive scattering of young talent therein had played Wigan off the park in the second half and taken a deserved lead, and only when the added time board went up did the Latics suddenly develop any sense of urgency, as if they felt being the only team to lose to Hull City on their own patch was a humiliation too awful to bear.<br /><br />It was as typical as anything that has depressingly typified City over the generations that the last chance of a win on the road was swiped from their grasp in the closing seconds of the match. A win would also have completed an incongruous double, too. Steve Gohouri's spectacular but eminently preventable leveller after 92 minutes meant that the Tigers ended the season without a single away victory. Not even the really, really rubbish sides that were relegated in 1978 and twice in the 1990s could say that.<br /><br />But it isn't a badge of honour. Deeply underperforming players on high wages have been our main problem this season, and such was their lack of bite on the road that this game represented the closest, even more so than <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/30-portsmouth-3-2-hull-city-20032010.html">Portsmouth a month or so ago</a>, that the Tigers had come to ending a particularly bad run. And it was achieved, were a close-but-no-cigar game to be cast as any form of achievement, with two Premier League debutants whose rawness exudes pride and innocence and desire, the type that could have kept us in the Premier League had their well-reimbursed seniors shown even a modicum of it in the last six weeks.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a>, not unexpectedly, gave <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/fa-cup-3rd-round-wigan-athletic-4-1_03.html">Mark Cullen</a> a start up front. Cullen is just 18 and therefore eligible to cast his vote on Thursday by a matter of mere weeks. He is tiny, slight and red-haired and will not be hard to recognise in the future, hopefully as much for his footballing promise as for his lack of physical stature. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/carling-cup-2nd-round-hull-city-3-1.html">Will Atkinson</a> also started a Premier League game for the first time, having enjoyed a good loan at Rochdale and previously been called into FA Cup and Carling Cup squads in the last three seasons without ever getting within even javelin-hurling distance of a chance at the highest level. Perhaps it patronises such players to essentially say to them that the game doesn't matter any more so they can play, but neither Atkinson nor Cullen showed signs of being talked down to. They were excellent. And, beyond that, they both had the nerve to score.<br /><br />Dowie recalled <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink</a> up front to give Cullen someone to look up to in every sense of the word. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Kevin Kilbane</a> earned - well, received - a recall to the left side of midfield and so did <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a>, a peer of Cullen and Atkinson and yet already earmarked as possibly the player who could be the most influential on the team when life in the Championship returns in August.<br /><br />Big names appeared on the bench but the biggest of the lot (salary, ego, level of expectation and disillusionment) in <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/see-you-jimmy.html">Jimmy Bullard</a> did not even travel with the squad. There is hope yet.<br /><br />City struggled to clear a pair of early balls into the area and Jordi Gomez hit a snapshot just wide, then both <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/gardners-world.html">Anthony Gardner</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a> threw themselves in the way of Hugo Rodallega after a neat tee-up from James McCarthy, blocking the drive bravely.<br /><br />Cullen's first involvement came when he intercepted a terrible goal kick from Wigan's third string custodian Vladimir Stojkovic and exchanged passes with Atkinson before crossing towards Vennegoor of Hesselink, who got his head there first but could only guide it wide.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a> then fed Kilbane's run down the left and a good pullback was met by a vigorous Atkinson shot which the keeper batted away. Atkinson and Vennegoor of Hesselink, continuing some good City pressure, each made fledgling runs through the Wigan backline and eventually the loose ball dropped to Kilbane, who got power into the shot but not quite the direction, hitting the side netting at Stojkovic's near post.<br /><br />At the other end, Wigan came very close to opening the scoring when Rodallega found himself in the six yard box with just <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/that-keeper-issue-again.html">Matt Duke</a> to beat, but Mouyokolo launched into a stunning block tackle of the type that makes good defenders into great ones, and the applause for this marvellous young player from the Tiger Nation was deservedly long and loud.<br /><br />It didn't last as far as parity was concerned, however, as Wigan took the lead on the half hour. A set-piece was cleared to <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/push-boat-out.html">George Boateng</a> whose ball down the flank was cut out, delivered into the feet of Victor Moses who exploited the City defence's belief that the danger was over by cutting into ample space around the edge of the box and belting a low shot beyond Duke and in via a post.<br /><br />It could have been two soon afterwards when Moses missed his kick in front of goal after Ben Watson's corner was nodded back to him from the far post by Rodallega. City, however, re-found their attitude and an equaliser came just before the break.<br /><br />Boateng broke down the right and crossed dangerously but Stojkovic got some purchase on his punch, though only finding Kilbane on the opposite side. He re-centred and Atkinson made a late and clever run to head firmly past the exposed keeper. Initially a flag went up for offside against Cullen, who had challenged for Boateng's initial ball, but referee Phil Dowd seemed inclined to overrule over the issue of not interfering with play and, after a quick check with his assistant, did just that. "We only want ten more," chanted the Tiger Nation...<br /><br />So, all level at half time and with an away goal from a young debutant who has waited forever for a chance like this. It seemed promising.<br /><br />City dominated the early part of the second half for possession but it was Wigan who were creating the opportunities. Duke saved with his feet as Rodallega hit a low one from distance, then both Rodallega and Gomez hit wide-angled snapshots just wide from well outside the box.<br /><br />City then won a free kick, which Cairney swung in. A half clearance was nodded back in by Atkinson for Mouyokolo to turn and swipe wide, despite the promise of his position in the area. An offside flag gave him a little respite from the disbelief of all in the away end, and soon the Tigers had a genuine goal to savour anyway.<br /><br />Another Cairney free kick, another clearance, and this time Boateng collected on the right. He delivered a second ball towards the far post and Cullen, showing terrific instinct and awareness that makes one believe he could succeed in the first team, ran beyond the last defender to nod in from five yards, before looking utterly bewildered by his achievement as the Tiger Nation celebrated before him and grown men jumped on his back.<br /><br />There were 25 minutes left and the Tigers were by some range the better team now. Cairney, quiet in the first half but imperious in the second, pulled the strings in midfield and sent the new hero away after intercepting a bad clearance, but Cullen this time shot over. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/folan-victim.html">Caleb Folan</a> came on and, after the customary offside decision against him and the usual search for blame away from his own wretched self, he managed to break clear once but was caught and robbed of the ball as he teed up a narrow-angled shot.<br /><br />Wigan didn't look especially worried by the situation, which suggested they were either beach-bound or just shockingly arrogant. Then, when the board went up for three added minutes, they perked up. Stojkovic went forward for a corner, despite there being no value attached to garnering a point at all, and when City cleared to Cullen on halfway there seemed an opportunity. Cullen, inexperience aplenty, tried to do something urgent with the ball as he knew there was an unguarded net, slipped on the wet surface, and Gary Caldwell was able to clip it back into the box. It was nodded on at the far post for Gohouri to chest down with his back to Duke's goal and then smack an overhead kick beyond the keeper and into the roof of the net.<br /><br />Wigan fans came on to the pitch to celebrate the least important goal of their season, which was as bemusing as it was gutting, and the final chance of chalking up an away win was gone. That we deserved to win will ultimately not be crucial when the table is examined at the end of the campaign, it will just show an embarrassing, horrid '0' under the away column headed with a 'W'.<br /><br />The positives were plentiful in terms of the displays - and goals - of Atkinson and Cullen, while Cairney looks every inch a senior player now and Mouyokolo will benefit the Tigers much if recent performances are an accurate indication, in that he will either be the best defender in the Championship next season or will fetch a princely sum from a Premier League side that will help ease the huge financial burden that the club has to fend off over the summer. However, the overriding negative of yet again failing to win away, yet again conceding late on will remain. As good as City were, the match still showed plenty of reasons why, this season, we are not good enough.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wigan Athletic</span>: Stojkovic, Gohouri, Caldwell, Melchiot, Figueroa, Watson, McCarthy (Sinclair 65), Gomez (Scotland 79), Moses, Diame (Scharner 82), Rodallega. Subs not used: Pollitt, Boyce, Thomas, Mostoe.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hull City</span>: Duke, Mendy, Dawson, Gardner, Mouyokolo, Boateng, Cairney, Kilbane, Atkinson, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Folan 70), Cullen. Subs not used: Myhill, Cooper, Olofinjana, Barmby, Geovanni, Fagan.</span>Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-62184155279495237292010-05-02T19:51:00.007+01:002010-05-03T05:57:46.555+01:00But I know we'll win away, some sunny dayTomorrow marks the penultimate weekend of the season and the final awayday of this woebegone Premier League campaign. <br /><br />Some may say there is nothing to play for. This blog suggests there is plenty to play for. A few thousand committed, maligned supporters who have watched the Tigers across the nation and have had very, very little to cheer when away from the KC Stadium.<br /><br />Of course, the travels have produced some memorable days, for the right reasons. City were superb <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/01-chelsea-2-1-hull-city-15082009.html">at Chelsea</a> on the opening day and only lost bar a fluke goal in injury time. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-myhill-versus-duke-again.html">Boaz Myhill</a> suffered mispronunciations of his name and mislabelling of his nationality as a consequence of the attention he got after single-handedly keeping <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/21-tottenham-hotspur-0-0-hull-city.html">Tottenham Hotspur out at White Hart Lane</a>.<br /><br />But the one thing that's missing from our season - apart from quality, obviously - is an away win. Hell, even Burnley have one of those. Don't spend too long trying to remember <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/33-hull-city-1-4-burnley-10042010.html">where it occurred</a>. The point is that Wigan Athletic represents the last chance to secure a win on the road. Or, to put it less delicately, it represents the last chance to avoid becoming one of those teams whose season was so abject that they didn't manage a single away win. Even the poorest teams usually manage one. <br /><br />We have only come close to it once, and that was <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/30-portsmouth-3-2-hull-city-20032010.html">at Portsmouth</a>, when we led 2-1 in the 85th minute and still lost the game. For all Myhill's heroics at Spurs, we were never going to create anything at the other end. We could have won <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/34-birmingham-city-0-0-hull-city.html">at Birmingham City</a> but <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a>'s negativity put paid to that. We came from two goals down to get a point <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/20-bolton-wanderers-2-2-hull-city.html">at Bolton Wanderers</a> but didn't really get close to completing the comeback. The <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/celebrate.html">famous penalty</a> earned us a point <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/15-manchester-city-1-1-hull-city.html">at Manchester City</a> that was never going to transmogrify into three. Once we were pegged back to 1-1 <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/04-wolverhampton-wanderers-1-1-hull.html">at Wolves</a>, we never looked likely to regain the lead and only <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/turner-and-campbell.html">Michael Turner</a>'s nether regions made sure we kept parity until the final whistle.<br /><br />We last won <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/03/28-fulham-0-1-hull-city-04032009.html">at Fulham in March last year</a>; the even more damning statistic is that is our only away win in 32 attempts. That's abysmal beyond even the standards of the Hull City teams of the darkest years in the 1990s.<br /><br />There will be youngsters on show tomorrow, who will hopefully show the senior pros that survive the cut exactly what pride and professionalism is about. Dowie doesn't need to be cautious or negative any more. Play the kids, tell them to win, and tell them it's for us. We've earned it.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-2221135507957981292010-04-29T19:25:00.008+01:002010-04-29T19:46:06.792+01:00AshHow we have missed <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/ash-is-rising.html">Ian Ashbee</a>. How we have missed the club's greatest skipper, and certainly one of football's great skippers. <br /><br />Had he been fit, and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/turner-and-campbell.html">Michael Turner</a> been kept - or even one of the above - then this blog is in no doubt that Hull City would have had a better season.<br /><br />Ashbee has been out for almost exactly one year with the bad knee injury suffered <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/05/35-aston-villa-1-0-hull-city-04052009.html">at Aston Villa towards the end of last season</a>. His absence has been noted not just as captain - the succession of players who have worn the armband without much talent for captaincy made it even more obvious, however - but as a cajoler, encourager, enforcer and the skilled moderator between players and club hierarchy he has always been.<br /><br />We are not only lucky to have a smart, skilled youngster like <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a> in our ranks. We're also lucky that when he leads our midfield next season, he'll have the best possible guide alongside him.<br /><br />Anyway, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a> has claimed that "at a push", Ashbee could play for half an hour against Liverpool in the last game of the season a week on Sunday. Despite later saying it may still be too early as Ashbee is under orders to rest, this became a no-brainer as soon as Dowie chose to say it was doable.<br /><br />The one time when there is room for sentiment in football is when neither you nor your opponents have anything to play for. By the time Liverpool visit the KC to bring down the curtain on our two years in the limelight, they will almost certainly know exactly where their European destiny lies irrespective of the result. Ashbee's semi-fitness should give him a place on the bench and with it, a chance to wear the Premier League crest on his sleeve one last time.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-69225197048318496712010-04-27T16:05:00.010+01:002010-04-27T16:30:34.932+01:00Bring back Warren Joyce<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbWKw5vPvmO5_R1fQjhr18FHvGK9_xoFuA1Pa-QBESeTQsIhmh6zBR96IzUb7PToZTD4Mf7lpIOukcPIfdAXZb5Ui5aVhB4Ke6bGu4Ylv7N_ZWCBZQT05o2fNWhhD17_yD7JmcM_bVRk/s1600/WARRENJOYCE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbWKw5vPvmO5_R1fQjhr18FHvGK9_xoFuA1Pa-QBESeTQsIhmh6zBR96IzUb7PToZTD4Mf7lpIOukcPIfdAXZb5Ui5aVhB4Ke6bGu4Ylv7N_ZWCBZQT05o2fNWhhD17_yD7JmcM_bVRk/s400/WARRENJOYCE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464840006170431202" /></a><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/04/citys-coach-driver-got-lost-on-his-way.html">Warren Joyce</a> would be a fantastic and courageous choice as the next manager of Hull City, were <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam Pearson</a> to decide we need one.<br /><br />One would hope Pearson will indeed have established by now that restoring <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/thank-you-phil.html">Phil Brown</a> to his previous role would be an own goal that even <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/zayatte-exit.html">Kamil Zayatte</a> would think outlandish, while <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a>'s experimental period in charge has been a complete failure. Neither should have the job next season. Neither deserve it.<br /><br />City are not in a financial position to go offering the job to highly-prized managers currently in work, so those suggesting Gary Johnson, Danny Wilson, Sean O'Driscoll or Lee Clark need to remove the rose-coloured specs. The salary that Pearson will probably need to offer with the role would also struggle to tempt good, unemployed managers like Tony Mowbray and Alan Curbishley - not to mention bad, unemployed managers like Gary Megson.<br /><br />There are wildcards out there. Footballers and football people rate Jim Gannon extremely highly, but he refused to sign contracts with both Motherwell and Peterborough United because of family commitments in the north west. Paul Jewell has a good CV but is tarnished by his failure to make Derby County a success under the watchful eye of a certain Adam Pearson, who both hired him and fired him. Jim Magilton has good credentials as a coach but made little progress at Ipswich Town and struggled to keep the belief of the players in his last job at QPR.<br /><br />So Pearson will need to dig deeper. And here is where Joyce comes in.<br /><br />The former City player-manager is already a club legend as architect of the original and best Grest Escape campaign of 1999. Without wishing to belittle Brown's achievements of 2007 and 2009, there was no finer, more dramatic nor more important rescue act than that which Joyce achieved with a bunch of focussed cloggers and talented kids, especially as Joyce was not a popular player with the Tiger Nation when he was first asked to take over from the wretched <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/10/international-rescue.html">Mark Hateley</a>.<br /><br />That Joyce was fired the next season by a dimwitted, impetuous and spiteful board of directors who wanted promotion to be handed on a plate remains one of the great scandals of Hull City's modern era. Joyce himself has kept a quiet, dignified silence when questioned in later years about the matter, but it still burns and rankles.<br /><br />He was the one who first took <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/turner-and-campbell.html">Fraizer Campbell</a> out of Manchester United when, as coach of Antwerp, he borrowed the raw young striker who promptly delivered a return of goals that was beyond stunning. Such was the impact of Joyce's time in the Belgian League that he was headhunted by Sir Alex Ferguson to become reserve team coach at Old Trafford, where he remains to this day. He and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer together have brought through Manchester United's latest supply of gifted youngsters now featuring semi-regularly in the first team.<br /><br />He loves Hull City, will feel he has a job to finish off and the Tiger Nation utterly adores him. He won't be expensive, either in salary or in compensation, and he will not have his boss standing in his way. He can use his influence to persuade bright young stars of Manchester United's future to come play for the Tigers in the Championship. He can tap into the psyche of footballers of any age, ability or ego and, as the club looks to become a much more approachable, likeable and solvent entity after the recent excesses, he will bring some much needed humility to the task.<br /><br />The more you think about it, the more sense it makes.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-92023047372241410802010-04-26T22:26:00.013+01:002010-04-26T23:32:09.535+01:00Push the Boat out?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MOAYnV3WFWVIdiYLpZW4948hh3ib6vurkhUFVopng_DxHWH4Ci3GHwXPt-NXQPNJ63dlEU2pYa2kAn16VD0LLucQQjc3XWMYNUluzuBqY2OZQBQ8_5T2bBqgVig2kbjfeMKhb_bXWCw/s1600/BOATTTTENG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MOAYnV3WFWVIdiYLpZW4948hh3ib6vurkhUFVopng_DxHWH4Ci3GHwXPt-NXQPNJ63dlEU2pYa2kAn16VD0LLucQQjc3XWMYNUluzuBqY2OZQBQ8_5T2bBqgVig2kbjfeMKhb_bXWCw/s400/BOATTTTENG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464577305221165362" /></a><br />Hypocrisy appears next to the name of a relegated Premier League club almost as quickly as the bold 'R' in brackets. <br /><br />The media, through distinguished columnists and much-decorated ex-players, has stuck an extra boot in on <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/by-george-they-got-it-right.html">George Boateng</a> following his decision to pin the blame for the drop squarely on <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/thank-you-phil.html">Phil Brown</a>.<br /><br />For as much as Boateng was incorrect to hark back to Boxing Day 2008 as a starting point for where it all went wrong, the media is more than a bit rich criticising him for this when it has been at pains to bring up that wretched incident time and time again every time anything slightly went awry at the KC.<br /><br />However, their main issue - that yet again a player was again trying to deflect blame for failure from other players - was observed correctly. Boateng has let himself down.<br /><br />This blog loves Boateng. He has been an awesome presence in a team of misfits and malingerers over the last three months or so. But this outburst, controlled and articulate though it was, does him no favours at all.<br /><br />He unwisely held court with any hack he could find to offer support and praise for the <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a> regime while claiming, without any room for misunderstanding, that Brown's ego and inability to get on with certain players prompted unrest that lasted for many months.<br /><br />And, of course, he took it all the way back to the team talk <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/12/19-manchester-city-5-1-hull-city.html">at Manchester City</a> on that Boxing Day, claiming the players were unable to play for Brown effectively after he chose to dress them down for their 4-0 half time deficit in front of the travelling fans.<br /><br />Boateng, whose dogged performances of late have at least enhanced any compulsion he felt to start pointing fingers, was quite wrong to wash quite so much dirty kit with the hacks. Evidently emotional and angry, he nonetheless owed it to his team-mates to keep his opinions to himself, especially those fellow senior professionals, like <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/barmby-no-more.html">Nick Barmby</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a>, who have long claimed that the notorious alfresco lecture had no bearing on the subsequent slump.<br /><br />His argument doesn't hold up for so many reasons. Without wishing to go through it again at any length, City followed the Manchester City debacle with a gritty performance <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/12/20-hull-city-0-1-aston-villa-30122008.html">against Aston Villa</a> which was lost only thanks to a very late own goal. Boateng himself was not party to the team talk, having been substituted as part of the tactical shake-up just half an hour into the game. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/mcshane-central.html">Paul McShane</a>, on loan at the time of the game, didn't lose enough faith or respect for Brown not to sign for the Tigers permanently in August. And Boateng himself was one of the players enthusiastically seated on the same stretch of Mancunian turf this season when the scene was satirically re-enacted in celebration of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/see-you-jimmy.html">Jimmy Bullard</a>'s penalty equaliser.<br /><br />Opening up this can of worms again does not do justice to Boateng, a player and man of intelligence and experience. The automatic assumption was that he was still smarting, with justification, at being on Brown's 'naughty step' this season, along with other professionals, following differences of opinion on their form and roles within the team. He pointed out that he took a wage cut to come to the KC Stadium and was treated shabbily afterwards by virtue of that decision by Brown to scapegoat him as, one by one, the Manchester City goals flew in. Boateng too was incorrect to praise the attitude and activities of the Dowie management team, given that a meagre four points from 21 available, including defeats in shocking circumstances against the two sides below us in the table, does not remotely represent a breath of fresh air or an upturn in fortunes.<br /><br />Those whose thoughts are dominated by conspiracy claim that, with <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam Pearson</a> in the dismal position of being publicly unable to rule out Brown's return from gardening leave in the summer, Boateng was making the effort to show willing for the club in order to make Brown's already unfathomable return even more pointless and backward an exercise. <br /><br />After all, Boateng has little to lose unless he is genuinely keen on staying with the club in the Championship. He is out of contract this summer and, although pushing 35 years of age, should receive at least one offer from lower-ranked Premier League outfits like Bolton Wanderers or Wigan Athletic to maintain a long-running and illustrious top-flight existence that began when he joined Coventry City in 1997.<br /><br />Yet his on-pitch passion and seemingly ageless existence in recent times has suggested, through actions if not yet words, that he would like to maintain his connections with City next season and in these circumstances, knows that Brown's mooted, implausible return would severely hamper that aim.<br /><br />Even if relations had improved between Boateng and Brown leading up to the <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/29-hull-city-1-2-arsenal-13032010.html">Arsenal game</a> (during which Boateng was sent off and after which Brown was handed his spade and shears by Pearson), clearly there was still ill-feeling there. Boateng had been cast aside earlier in the campaign by Brown and the Dutchman is obviously in possession of a long memory. His comments at the weekend would make his future with the Tigers untenable, even with Pearson acting as mediator, were Brown to return.<br /><br />It should be a pointless argument, of course. A manager on gardening leave has never, to this blog's knowledge, returned to a club afterwards. Gardening leave was, in this instance, Pearson's chosen course of action simply because he couldn't afford to pay Brown off under the terms of his contract. That means he would have willingly sacked him on the spot had the financial position of the club been healthier. There is no grey area here.<br /><br />Boateng therefore seems to hold the aces, even though he has been heavily criticised by pundits and columnists for what he said, while supporters have also accepted he made a bad judgement while also holding back on severely admonishing a player whose recent displays had at least done justice to the Tigers shirt. <br /><br />It is tiresome to hear players blame anyone but themselves when things go pear-shaped, and while Brown has to take his share of the flak, so must Dowie, but most of all so must highly-paid and vastly underperforming members of the first team squad. Boateng can at least say with a clear conscience that he has done some good talking on the pitch, even if his talking off it has added extra fuel to a fire already roaring out of control.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-37760989260865750382010-04-24T18:32:00.014+01:002010-04-24T19:39:38.200+01:0036: Hull City 0 - 1 Sunderland - 24/04/2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pjHbAYBncTVyEpzyZoOaggG8oYJvbZW9owaUB66YVN1tFkbe5XORzZkl1r4oSRFPG9c35GBwQDwgZjmJHv0Ttew1T5lLowOLEOeyF4DajNMkH86TPf__dmvpfyq7GGGc7BJVS-IphIc/s1600/24042010164.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pjHbAYBncTVyEpzyZoOaggG8oYJvbZW9owaUB66YVN1tFkbe5XORzZkl1r4oSRFPG9c35GBwQDwgZjmJHv0Ttew1T5lLowOLEOeyF4DajNMkH86TPf__dmvpfyq7GGGc7BJVS-IphIc/s400/24042010164.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463759609668553906" /></a><br />It's hard to type with a heavy heart and fingers tired from defiant applauding. There may be no emboldened letter 'r' in brackets next to Hull City's name after today, but it's relegation nonetheless. Ultimately, a playing squad devoid of ideas and particularly devoid of goals simply wasn't good enough to, at best, prolong the agony.<br /><br />The inquest will be long and harrowing. There was an £8million wage bill when the club were promoted; it is now in the region of the £40million mark while somehow dropping in quality. The figureheads that oversaw this quite extraordinary bit of malpractice will continue to offer excuses and issue strong denials. But the upshot is that relegation doesn't just mean the end of trips to Anfield and Old Trafford and a return to the Glanford Park and Ashton Gate, it also means a total decimation of the squad as the vultures emerge with undergenerous offers, knowing that the financial plight of the Tigers means that the better players - there are some - may be sold for a mere fraction of their true worth.<br /><br />Their worth to Hull City right now is nil, really. They couldn't keep us up, after all. Against Sunderland with nothing to play for and an away record that, while nothing compared to ours, still is not something to be proud of, there was proper endeavour but just no quality at all. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/see-you-jimmy.html">Jimmy Bullard</a>, so much the talisman whether fit or not, was so abject he was substituted at half time. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-man.html">Geovanni</a>, back in the starting XI, was much better but still couldn't produce any magic that once made him the subject of much discussion and praise. Sunderland were tidy and quite defensive and though they only scored one of their many early chances before letting the Tigers dominate, never looked in too much danger.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/turner-and-campbell.html">Michael Turner</a> was playing for them and got an enormous cheer. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/turner-and-campbell.html">Fraizer Campbell</a> also figured and was regally barracked throughout. Had Turner stayed and Campbell signed - especially the former - there may have been a different story to the season. Hypotheticals are all we now have.<br /><br />Geovanni's recall was accompanied by likewise for <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/gardners-world.html">Anthony Gardner</a>, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/yesterdays-mendy.html">Bernard Mendy</a>, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/barmby-no-more.html">Nick Barmby</a>, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html">Jozy Altidore</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/folan-victim.html">Caleb Folan</a>. Six alterations in all. It was a 4-4-2 as well, therefore necessitating the removal of the fabulous <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a>, though he was on the bench.<br /><br />Sunderland, with their usual full-throated and slightly charmless support (let's qualify this - Sunderland have superb supporters but given their numerous misfortunes at this level in recent times, slagging off a far smaller club for suffering a relegation not even remotely as humiliating as the one they suffered under Mick McCarthy smacked of utterly graceless idiots), took early control and could have been three up quite quickly. Campbell, playing wide in red boots, fed an overlap from Jordan Henderson with nobody tracking back, and the layback was wastefully belted over by Steed Malbranque.<br /><br />It didn't take long to make up for this bad miss as Alan Hutton hit a smart cross to the far side of the area for Kenwyne Jones to nod goalwards and Darren Bent guided in a neat volley with little attention being paid to his run, leaving <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/that-keeper-issue-again.html">Matt Duke</a> helpless. A simple goal, from Sunderland's point of view also a deserved and artistic goal, from the Tigers point of view a terrible goal.<br /><br />The next chance quickly followed as Henderson curled one just over from a terrific long ball by Malbranque, before City finally made the visiting back four work. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/by-george-they-got-it-right.html">George Boateng</a> crossed for Altidore to challenge the onrushing Craig Gordon near the edge of the box. The ball fell out of the box but the keeper inexplicably was more committed to a standard tackle than Bullard, who seemed to jump out of the way. Afterwards Barmby tried a shot on the turn from a rare bit of Folan craft - a dummy from Boateng's overhead punt - but Gordon had little trouble claiming it.<br /><br />Geovanni then broke down the right and fed Barmby's run outside him, with Turner cutting out the dangerous low cross and forcing a corner. Bullard's kick then got to Folan at the far post but his control was dire and eventually he could only pass backwards to Boateng, with the eventual second ball from Bullard punched clear.<br /><br />Duke held a Kieran Richardson free kick that found a hole in City's wall before City's first real bit of bad luck. Bullard swung in another corner and Gardner, very warmly welcome back after his ankle injury, won a clean and powerful header that Gordon kept out only by being directly in the way, as opposed to any really tangible effort to save.<br /><br />Altidore then won a free kick on the counter attack which Bullard chipped in and Barmby headed over, then Altidore got Folan free on a counter attack and the lolloping City forward tried a low shot aimed for Gordon's near post which the keeper managed to palm out of play.<br /><br />Folan's one telling contribution then followed, when he unusually fought like a wild animal to get possession of the ball on the edge of the box and when Geovanni took possession of the loosened ball, a wild boot chopped him down. The penalty was obvious but Bullard really picked his moment to miss his first spot kick for the club, smacking the outside of the post with his low shot.<br /><br />Geovanni was fouled again shortly afterwards and sent the free kick over, and in the five added minutes at the end Altidore and Hutton each received red cards after a tussle ended with the American striker aiming his head into the Scotsman's face. Unquestionably a foul and red card, but there was an outcry from the Sunderland contingent when Hutton, whose brand of overacting could have had him in rep, also saw red. Why Steve Bruce felt the need to join in the altercations near the corner flag is anyone's guess. <br /><br />That' the last time we shall see Altidore play for the Tigers, then. He may as well hop on a plane back to Spain or the USA right now, with our good wishes.<br /><br />The half time whistle shrilled soon after the game finally got going again. That Cairney was ready to come on at the start of the second half was pleasing, that the previously undroppable Bullard was the player withdrawn was greeted with unforgiving approval. Bullard may have had a knock, of course, but for a player of his class and importance he has delivered next to nothing in recent times. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a>, for all his faults, called this one correctly. A player who cared replaced one whose attitude was questionable, to put it charitably.<br /><br />Sunderland made two changes as not only had Hutton been dismissed but Turner, who had been imperious as expected, had picked up an injury.<br /><br />The early second half was only notable for the enormous chorus of the Great Escape that emerged from the Tiger Nation, as neither side created anything of worth and many were concentrating on whether Wigan Athletic could maintain or improve upon their level-pegging status at West Ham. Geovanni hit a free kick into the wall after Cairney was tripped by Campbell, and then the Brazilian was booked for diving while trying to win another set-piece on the edge of the box.<br /><br />Dowie slung on <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/fagans-final-felony.html">Craig Fagan</a> for Barmby, whose attitude was superb but contribution still muted. Fagan then, depressingly, chose to spend the majority of his gametime trying to wind up Richardson on the flank they shared. Meanwhile, Duke was called into action for the first time when tipping wide a Lorik Cana drive from long range, while Bruce's whingeing at the officials earned him a dismissal to the stands.<br /><br />City's best chance - aside from the penalty - came when Mendy crossed from the edge of the area for Folan to nod back to a very advanced <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a>, whose shot took a deflection and hit the trailing legs of an otherwise committed Gordon. It was as unlucky as City could have been.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a> looked after a Campbell counter attack with aplomb before David Meyler's left-footed follow up flew wide, then a Bent drive took a deflection off Gardner which made it an easier catch for the City custodian.<br /><br />Dowie went for broke and withdrew the terrific Boateng - paid a lot, but worth it more than most, and one hopes he may sign a new deal for the Championship - and sent the youthful <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/fa-cup-3rd-round-wigan-athletic-4-1_03.html">Mark Cullen</a> into the Premier League for the first time. Cullen soon got into the action, floating a lovely ball on to Folan's head but the nod back from him and the rancorous effort at shooting from Fagan that followed was simply humiliating.<br /><br />In the five added minutes, Mendy hit a low shot on target that Gordon held, and the Frenchman was one of two players - Mouyokolo being the other - who sank on to his back, distraught, when the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards. There were no tears - we've been through far worse than this - but mainly philosophical words and gestures, as if we knew it couldn't and wouldn't last. Sunderland's supporters were refreshingly sympathetic as they applauded the Tiger Nation prior to exiting the KC, happy with their own three points.<br /><br />West Ham won, so at best we'll be relegated thanks purely to a woefully inferior goal difference. That tells its own tale, as for the thrashings we've taken there is more to be said for the utter ineptitude shown when trying to find the back of the net this season. Assuming we don't find Wigan on the beach next week (and even if we do the likelihood of scoring doesn't necessarily increase), we'll also end the season without a single away win.<br /><br />This relegation is horrible and merciless and there will be plenty of Premier League stalwarts who will not be sorry to see us go. But make no mistake, it is a relegation we entirely deserve. Were it not for the frightening financial situation that now awaits us thanks to demotion, it'd be an easier relegation to take than any of those of 1978, 1981, 1991 and 1996, even though we were poor on the park and skint off it (and often both) on those occasions too. After all, this time round we've had a two-year stay in the top flight. <br /><br />It really has been the very best trip we've ever been on. But now we may be about to embark on our worst. Over to you, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hull City</span>: Duke, Mendy, Dawson, Mouyokolo, Gardner, Boateng (Cullen 75), Bullard (Cairney 46), Barmby (Fagan 62), Geovanni, Folan, Altidore. Subs not used: Myhill, Sonko, Kilbane, Olofinjana.</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sunderland</span>: Gordon, Hutton, Turner (Ferdinand 46), Kilgallon, Richardson, Malbranque (Bardsley 46), Henderson, Meyla, Campbell, Jones (Cana 60), Bent. Subs not used: Carson, Da Silva, Zenden, Mwaruwari.</span>Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-67829426146943864692010-04-24T10:19:00.002+01:002010-04-24T10:21:43.132+01:00Don't let it be overMost of us have been resigned to relegation since the <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/33-hull-city-1-4-burnley-10042010.html">Burnley debacle</a>, never mind the awful night <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/35-hull-city-0-2-aston-villa-21042010.html">against Aston Villa</a> that frittered away our one trump card of a game in hand.<br /><br />But today is a new day, with a new game to play. So go on City, prolong the agony. Beat Sunderland and better what West Ham United do against Wigan. Put the work in. Make us sweat. Give us some of that horrible hope for a bit longer. Dare you.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-9759191708541381092010-04-23T21:29:00.007+01:002010-04-23T21:46:50.209+01:00Turner and Campbell<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S0e4ciHsg6g67ddKkZEchyphenhyphenR2ndLkgMVhQIXMI7m1QSIDez-g4iMkOdnWIDdSBqPmGCsaBytNZhWyBk9QD0A5XLiZZI3ef_H5UhESxmiWODW-ATvTdeykbjH4Bpjt-HU7u826vGmEO1M/s1600/TUUUURNER.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S0e4ciHsg6g67ddKkZEchyphenhyphenR2ndLkgMVhQIXMI7m1QSIDez-g4iMkOdnWIDdSBqPmGCsaBytNZhWyBk9QD0A5XLiZZI3ef_H5UhESxmiWODW-ATvTdeykbjH4Bpjt-HU7u826vGmEO1M/s400/TUUUURNER.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463436796414532018" /></a><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/08/legend-departs.html">Michael Turner</a> comes back to the KC Stadium tomorrow in the unenviable position of being within a team that could relegate all his old muckers by the time 5pm comes round.<br /><br />Turner has been a success at Sunderland, to whom <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/mr-chairman.html">Paul Duffen</a> practically gave him away in August while brazenly telling all and sundry that the fee was huge, and he will be given the warmest of welcomes by the bedraggled Tiger Nation that never forgets a hero.<br /><br />Oddly, while we'd kill to have Turner in our side again, the centre of defence has largely had not much wrong with it beyond the actual absence of the best player ever to wear Hull City colours in that - or any - position. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/gardners-world.html">Anthony Gardner</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/zayatte-exit.html">Kamil Zayatte</a> have each had good, sturdy spells in the side, albeit with an isolated error each, while <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a> has been a terrific find and even <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/window-lean.html">Ibrahima Sonko</a>, brought in as an unwanted temporary replacement for Turner as much to appease unrest as to plug any gaps, has been able to restore a soupcon of his crushed reputation.<br /><br />But Turner, oh how we miss him. How we miss that reliability, that positional accuracy, that immense reading of the game, that step or two in his head that makes up for a lack of sheer pace. How me miss all of those things. How he will be loved forever for what he achieved at the club, and how his sale will always go down as the day Hull City's supporters and the hierarchy that secured Premier League status fell out of love.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuxD5Vtd1odfZSJQs5efcrfg1eM9DDt0TS4-4fqAvELJbLLS7bMZveH4pKZYitVxL0O0yp-k1pMZIIvrA7QUJFrOY8ZOpD_yCs1z0T4D1Na7GVp8q4Kvp-mwZ1PSJ5AyjLT-IEBDwHVo/s1600/FRAAAAIZ.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuxD5Vtd1odfZSJQs5efcrfg1eM9DDt0TS4-4fqAvELJbLLS7bMZveH4pKZYitVxL0O0yp-k1pMZIIvrA7QUJFrOY8ZOpD_yCs1z0T4D1Na7GVp8q4Kvp-mwZ1PSJ5AyjLT-IEBDwHVo/s400/FRAAAAIZ.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463436638283656978" /></a><br />The same can't be said of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/hero-and-villain.html">Fraizer Campbell</a>, of course. He will be booed and barracked to high heaven by unforgiving types who recall the number of occasions he seemed set to rejoin us and then never did. Campbell has, worryingly, begun to find some scoring form at last for the club he eschewed the Tigers for last summer. If he finds a winning goal that sends us back to the Championship this weekend, it'll complete the most gruesome of turnarounds, given that he set up the goal <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/08/this-is-what-its-all-about.html">at Wembley</a> that got us out of there in the first place.<br /><br />If Turner plays a blinder at the back, if Campbell scores a goal at the front, neither will be blamed. They're Sunderland players and a job is required of them. But in this bitterest of bitter, hateful campaigns, it'd be the icing on a deeply tasteless cake if one of these two heroes of such recent memory actively confirmed our descent back to the footballing abyss. At least with Turner, it'd be easily forgiven, and he won't celebrate at all. With Campbell, it'd be a different matter entirely.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-4621161352770896102010-04-22T13:29:00.011+01:002010-04-22T14:33:27.601+01:0035: Hull City 0 - 2 Aston Villa - 21/04/2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uxWwf-_SPwdMwtQqzsO11XRwNNGQAMidoc_sQv9cMyXUpoVIsnzyi41JEkGUyw5TnvR_m0MViDljylDOqclx9rgUff8wbO787TAKODwQB3OT0nh30qbpLT9tMZyzVr6-F8OtJMctLM0/s1600/22042010158.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uxWwf-_SPwdMwtQqzsO11XRwNNGQAMidoc_sQv9cMyXUpoVIsnzyi41JEkGUyw5TnvR_m0MViDljylDOqclx9rgUff8wbO787TAKODwQB3OT0nh30qbpLT9tMZyzVr6-F8OtJMctLM0/s400/22042010158.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462950320360386018" /></a><br />And so another nail takes a hammering. The game in hand has gone and with it, almost certainly, Hull City's status as a Premier League club. <br /><br />Yet again we proved that the team isn't good enough, the risk on a new manager hasn't paid off and the future generally looks bleak. While there is much to be had from competing equally in the Championship and making the process of watching one's team fun again, there is a lot of doom and gloom abound after digesting <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam Pearson</a>'s programme notes. He criticised <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/mr-chairman.html">Paul Duffen</a> again, which was both welcome and expected. But he left enough rope therein to allow a self-hanging in the summer if the anticipated relegation becomes reality. There is trouble ahead for the Tigers.<br /><br />This knowledge almost makes the nature of last night's defeat to a polished but cynical Aston Villa side unimportant. Villa were better than City, as befitting of a side chasing a place in Europe's elite while steadfastly refusing to have anything resembling a squad big enough. Meanwhile, the Tigers sink merrily deeper, seemingly unaware of just how awful the football is despite the presence of a handful of players whose wages are far exceeding the level of talent or commitment on display.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a> is going to fail. He won't accept that, but one suspects he knows it. One is certain that the chairman who took a spin on him knows it too, and is getting his retaliation in first. Pearson is a club legend forever but is unspeakably dreadful at picking managers, and yet it will still be his job to pick another in the summer. And even if, via a miracle that would make the burning bush extinguish itself in shame, the Tigers take nine points from the last three matches and survive, Dowie cannot stay.<br /><br />He picked the 4-5-1 that did so well <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/34-birmingham-city-0-0-hull-city.html">at Birmingham City</a> and quite rightly. Yet once more he failed to turn it into a 4-4-2 when the state of the occasion demanded that the Tigers chanced their arm and attacked a little more. And, frankly, 4-4-2 is hardly taking a chance, is it? It's the natural formation. Dowie was unlucky to lose <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink</a> to a vile head injury - the big Dutchman was unconscious before he hit the ground after the foreheads of he and Richard Dunne made sickening contact - and so <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html">Jozy Altidore</a>'s introduction was unavoidably like for like. But when, with the score only 1-0 to Villa, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-man.html">Geovanni</a> was summoned, it was the impishly brilliant <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a> instead of the woefully short - of skill, pace, direction, touch, you name it - <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Kevin Kilbane</a> who was dragged off. And the catcalls from the Tiger Nation were loud and long and fierce for it.<br /><br />Soon afterwards, Villa got their second and were strolling to a win that they didn't really have to work too hard for. City began to embarrass us all, with touches going awry and tackles being missed and passes being not just misplaced, but largely invisible full stop. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/mcshane-central.html">Paul McShane</a> has never played a worse game of football in his life, and plenty of Sunderland fans will laugh at that thought. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/fagans-final-felony.html">Craig Fagan</a> was all kill and no skill, everything that creates despair in him. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/see-you-jimmy.html">Jimmy Bullard</a> reverted to his deeper position and looked for full backs only. The centre backs, less culpable than anyone else, were devoid of assistance as Villa chose, sometimes, to go for more goals. It <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/33-hull-city-1-4-burnley-10042010.html">wasn't as bad as Burnley</a> but that is more from the caveat of who the opposition were rather than from any real improvement.<br /><br />Villa had the first chance of the game when Carlos Cuellar headed right at <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/that-keeper-issue-again.html">Matt Duke</a> from a Stewart Downing set-piece. City responded with Kilbane spooning a reasonable chance far, far over the crossbar after Vennegoor of Hesselink had nodded an <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a> cross into his path.<br /><br />Cairney lost the ball in midfield for the only time in the game but nearly cost City dear as James Milner charged on to the loose ball and exploited the space but screwed his shot wide. It wasn't going to take long, it seemed, for Villa to get their opening goal, though they did so through circumstances that all of the travelling Villa fans - and how few of those there were - would have found richly comical.<br /><br />A ball was played into the Tigers box. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/window-lean.html">Ibrahima Sonko</a> tried to clear and hit a Villa body. It went to McShane and he tried to clear and it hit a Villa body, again. The ball ricocheted wide for Gabriel Agbonlahor who collected, sized up where the space on a quickly guarded goal was and promptly found it, with Duke's hand and two leaping outfield players each beaten by the accuracy of the shot.<br /><br />A fantastic finish, but a chance that should never have even remotely gone Agbonlahor's way.<br /><br />Stiliyan Petrov then tested Duke's fingertips from distance before City responded with their only real spell of pressure. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/by-george-they-got-it-right.html">George Boateng</a> won a splendid tackle to release Kilbane, who got Vennegoor of Hesselink in on goal. Brad Friedel blocked but Kilbane followed up, hit one shot at a covering defender, a second at another defender, and then the third, with the ball now in front of goal, at the one Villa player left on the goalline with everyone else on the deck. Kilbane essentially was one on one with a player who wasn't allowed to handle the ball. He failed.<br /><br />Dawson tried a free kick which cleared the wall and hit the target but was easily clutched by the astute Friedel, who knew where it was going before it was kicked.<br /><br />A chunk of the first half remained with no chances resulting and lots of delaying tactics from Villa players, with Stephen Warnock and Ashley Young especially guilty. It was frustrating stuff but Villa have form for this sort of thing, and they remain the most cynical and deceitful team at this level, getting away with much of it because they have English players at the forefront of it. Warnock was especially loathsome.<br /><br />The second half started with Cairney enjoying a fine run in and out of three players before giving Fagan a crossing chance that ended up as a corner. It came to nothing, but Sonko's long throws proved a semi-effective weapon thereafter, and Vennegoor of Hesselink hit a volley into the ground from one such howitzer that Friedel tipped over. From the corner, Vennegoor of Hesselink suffered his head injury.<br /><br />There was a ten minute delay, caused as much by the slowness of the stretcher bearers in actually getting to the stricken player as by the injury itself. Altidore eventually came on and 4-5-1 was maintained, but little else. Sonko chucked in more throws, Dunne dealt with them simply and confidently. Cairney took one gorgeous corner that <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a> headed wide, then a counter-attacking Agbonlahor went for the long-range curler after John Carew's layback, but Duke did well to touch it over when it looked destined for the net.<br /><br />Geovanni was seen to be getting ready to come on at this stage. Now, the Brazilian hasn't looked committed from what little football he has had of late, but even so the extra pace on the ball and vision made him seem perfect. Kilbane, unable to look the correct way, let alone make any kind of contribution as a football player, could be withdrawn and City would charge after an equaliser. At worst, Fagan could be yanked away from the scene after a particularly unpleasant evening of whinging and strutting not backed by footballing prowess.<br /><br />But Dowie took off Cairney.<br /><br />Cairney had been booked but had also been in total control of City's ratio of possession, more so even than Bullard. The reaction of the crowd brought back memories of how Geovanni's own withdrawal <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/03/27-hull-city-1-2-blackburn-rovers.html">against Blackburn Rovers last season</a> was greeted, only this time it was far more deserved. Dowie called it wrong. Dowie made a change not to improve, but to maintain. Taking off a less cultured player than Cairney may still not have worked, but it would at least have given an indication that City were trying to get back into the game. Like for like does not do this, especially when the player taken out of the equation was the one who seemed most competent on the ball.<br /><br />Carew countered from another Sonko long throw and, with City struggling to get bodies back, fed Milner who reached the area, slipped inside Boateng and had his ankle taken. Penalty without argument, and Milner himself sent Duke the wrong way very neatly.<br /><br />Dowie put Kilbane out of our misery afterwards and sent on <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/seyi.html">Seyi Olofinjana</a>, but the remainder of the game was played out without signs of life, hope or commitment, and that is as much a description of the Tiger Nation as it is of the team. We're beaten. We're spent. And we're down. Open the inquest now. There's no point at looking at our three remaining games, nor those of West Ham United immediately above us, as we simply will not get another point all season.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hull City</span>: Duke, McShane, Dawson, Sonko, Mouyokolo, Boateng, Cairney (Geovanni 70), Bullard, Kilbane (Olofinjana 84), Fagan, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Altidore 54). Subs not used: Myhill, Cooper, Barmby, Cullen.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Aston Villa</span>: Friedel, Cuellar, Warnock, Dunne, Collins, Downing, Milner, Petrov (Sidwell 84), A.Young, Carew (Heskey 90), Agbonlahor. Subs not used: Guzan, L.Young, Beye, Reo-Coker, Delfouneso.</span>Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-57610489235657180832010-04-21T10:25:00.011+01:002010-04-22T14:27:55.805+01:00Play the five againAs <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a> shifts unpopularly towards another 4-5-1 set-up against Aston Villa tonight, the reason for it seems pretty clear. In fact there are two reasons for it - <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Kevin Kilbane</a>.<br /><br />It feels close to our last chance to stay in the fight for survival tonight, as this is the game in hand we've had on everyone else for quite some time. It should have taken place at the end of February but Villa's involvement in the Carling Cup final put paid to that.<br /><br />Now, with only ourselves to worry about as we prepare for a truly enormous occasion for the Tigers, our temporary football management consultant seems set to stick with the 4-5-1 formation. It is obviously going to be greeted with howls of derision when we need to win the game, but it's worth examining why he is looking at it.<br /><br />Firstly, it worked well and looked quite good <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/34-birmingham-city-0-0-hull-city.html">at Birmingham City</a>. Dowie's only error was not changing to a 4-4-2 when bringing on <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html">Jozy Altidore</a> as the hosts evidently were struggling to cope with City even with one striker and a packed midfield. He thought it was winnable with 4-5-1 to the end. Better finishing suggests he would have been right, but in a squad devoid of killer finishers, he took off the best the club has to offer in <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink</a> when adding Altidore's power to the front line.<br /><br />Secondly, the team is simply a better thing for Tom Cairney's presence within it, but although his defending is improving, there is simply no place for him in a 4-4-2 that also needs to accommodate <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/see-you-jimmy.html">Jimmy Bullard</a> and somebody of an attacking bent in a wide position, who currently is <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/fagans-final-felony.html">Craig Fagan</a>. For all Kilbane's laughable inabilities with a football, he is a steady influence, both as player and talker, and adds the insurance required that permits Cairney and Bullard to roam and scamper about with the ball at their feet. Kilbane adds little in attack, though he does get into attacking positions, but a four-man midfield which requires Cairney to play wider and operate as a defensive player as much as his marvellous touch gets him forward, is asking for bother. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/by-george-they-got-it-right.html">George Boateng</a> can protect one. He can't protect two.<br /><br />A 4-4-2 formation is, of course, preferable in the current Tigers situation, especially as it would - assuming Dowie has noticed this - pair Altidore and Vennegoor of Hesselink up front again. But the downside is that in the midfield, it wouldn't be Kilbane who would get sacrificed, it would be Cairney.<br /><br />Dowie is within his right to stick with the 4-5-1 - and, frankly, the actual XI that began the Birmingham game within that formation. However, if things need to be stepped up with an hour gone, and the game feels winnable or salvageable, he has to grab the bull by the horns and use his substitution to create a 4-4-2. There are players like <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/seyi.html">Seyi Olofinjana</a> knocking about if we then need to re-strengthen the centre of the park in the event of having a lead to defend.<br /><br />Cairney, unless he directly replaces Bullard, does not belong in a 4-4-2. It really is that straightforward.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-14922442699297065882010-04-17T21:03:00.007+01:002010-04-18T17:50:23.389+01:0034: Birmingham City 0 - 0 Hull City - 17/04/2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1TRwPwTqaGzGXHzw8gKzDzSiqhuF6ZXbGrpxzRkx3H66Qlt-Dag_vAlf4g4DH0jPRW7sXr535-bFRR3rjcqzm3W_cxfg-jSKAVq6HDimwsRnzMsRzMWcaZrm_Cr8nebnC0k-gGWKtjU/s1600/17042010155.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1TRwPwTqaGzGXHzw8gKzDzSiqhuF6ZXbGrpxzRkx3H66Qlt-Dag_vAlf4g4DH0jPRW7sXr535-bFRR3rjcqzm3W_cxfg-jSKAVq6HDimwsRnzMsRzMWcaZrm_Cr8nebnC0k-gGWKtjU/s400/17042010155.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461199999173760530" /></a><br /><br />And so the mantra of hope over despair is maintained. A nervy, battling, often enjoyable performance by Hull City which, with just a little more finishing prowess, would have been a stunning and timely three points instead of the adequate one.<br /><br />The Tigers were helped by some effective and subtle team changes by <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a>, although his selection in goal of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/that-keeper-issue-again.html">Matt Duke</a> over <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-myhill-versus-duke-again.html">Boaz Myhill</a> was as surprising as it was pointless, and an obviously dozy Birmingham City whose work this season is done and who are all looking forward far too prematurely to a tropical island and a big telly beamed in on South Africa.<br /><br />Dowie also restored <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink</a> up front but in doing so again erased the name of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html">Jozy Altidore</a> from the teamsheet. Yet has he to see the potential of the American-Dutch partnership that briefly looked so useful in <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/thank-you-phil.html">Phil Brown</a>'s last throes, but there was at least progress in his thinking by the absence of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/folan-victim.html">Caleb Folan</a> entirely from the side. Also returning was <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a> within a five-man midfield.<br /><br />Birmingham had the first chance as James McFadden volleyed a half-cleared corner from Craig Gardner over the bar and then Scott Dann was wide with a glancing header from another Gardner set-piece. The game settled quickly and, with springtime sunshine beating down on St Andrew's, City began to get more involved.<br /><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/see-you-jimmy.html">Jimmy Bullard</a>, with his head up throughout the game, swapped passes with the selfless Vennegoor of Hesselink to send <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/by-george-they-got-it-right.html">George Boateng</a> free to the byline. The marking had not materialised at all by the time the low cross reached <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Kevin Kilbane</a> with pretty much an open goal before him, but the ball ran under his feet. A seriously big chance wasted, but the resourcefulness of the move suggested that the Tigers were capable of creating similarly good openings again.<br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/mcshane-central.html"><br />Paul McShane</a> cleared under pressure from Cameron Jerome after Duke could only palm to one side a Gardner shot before City countered thanks to Bullard's renewed desire to advance with the ball, and he tried two shots from distance which were saved by Joe Hart and deflected into touch respectively. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/fagans-final-felony.html">Craig Fagan</a>, back at his first club, sliced a reasonable chance high and wide after Vennegoor of Hesselink nodded Bullard's chipped pass into his path.<br /><br />Birmingham then saw City bodies get in the way of good chances, with <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a>'s crunching challenge on Keith Fahey earning him rapturous acclaim from the Tiger Nation, and then Cairney also putting a sturdy foot in the way of Jerome's effort after City had been caught out by a quick throw. The ball looped into the air and Lee Bowyer headed over the bar.<br /><br />Duke then saved a Bowyer shot with a full airborne stretch, a stop that was to prove his most taxing moment of the day as Birmingham began to wilt, dropping back as the break approached and giving the Tigers, and especially Bullard, more of the ball. Vennegoor of Hesselink plunged at a low <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a> cross to aim a fierce diving header towards Hart's near post but the keeper managed a tidy and instinctive save. The tall Dutchman managed a further header shortly afterwards from a Fagan centre but it was weaker and caused little trouble for Hart.<br /><br />Half time came and went with, as usual in these situations, the Tiger Nation expressing hope and immediately cursing themselves for doing so.<br /><br />But it was worth expressing as City were by far the better team in the second half. Instantly Kilbane won a corner which Bullard curled in dangerously for Mouyokolo to head on and Boateng to volley over after a Birmingham forehead only got half the required power into the clearance. Encouraging start, made more so by the wonderful Cairney weaving through three players, determined to find room for a shot that, when it came, was too high.<br /><br />As the game began to open up, Dowie got Altidore ready and we awaited the restoration of the big two up front. But alas, it was Vennegoor of Hesselink's number that was raised but at least with Altidore on the park there would be mobility as well as brute force to work Birmingham's tiring defenders. He was roared on with real enthusiasm by the Tiger Nation.<br /><br />Birmingham counter attacked from an <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/window-lean.html">Ibrahima Sonko</a> long throw but Jerome's final shot was deflected wide by a chasing McShane, who had initially struggled to see the ball arrowing his way from the Birmingham half thanks to the sun. From the corner, City launched their own counter which involved Altidore burrowing through, round and eventually past Roger Johnson to get to the byline, only to concede a soft free kick as the defender went to the turf.<br /><br />Bullard, utterly dominant of the ball now, tried a poked shot that had in timing what it lacked in power, and Hart was very nearly fooled but still managed to grab at the goalbound shot. Altidore and Cairney then exchanged passes with real beauty before Cairney hit a shot with the outside of his left boot that was only just wide.<br /><br />Injury time was underway by the time Fagan hit the final chance just wide from a volley that came his way after Bullard's cross was cleared. The final whistle confirmed a goalless game but anything but a soulless effort from the Tigers, and while a point only represents a hollow victory following that awful display <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/33-hull-city-1-4-burnley-10042010.html">against Burnley</a> a week ago, it also indicates there is still spirit and desire in the squad to do the right thing by us all. It was a fine game and so nearly the finest of results, and much credit should offered to all involved.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Birmingham City</span>: Hart, Carr, Ridgewell, Johnson, Dann, Bowyer, Ferguson, Fahey (Larsson 63), McFadden (Phillips 60), Jerome, Gardner. Subs not used: Taylor, Parnaby, Madera, Vignal, Benitez.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hull City</span>: Duke, McShane, Dawson, Mouyokolo, Sonko, Boateng, Cairney, Bullard, Kilbane, Fagan, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Altidore 75). Subs not used: Myhill, Cooper, Marney, Olofinjana, Barmby, Geovanni.</span>Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-89533015907563106162010-04-16T13:40:00.006+01:002010-04-16T14:00:53.043+01:00Barmby no more<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-X6BgmiyQSlzlIi_zfvJ2TYq7z5uNXaxm0y0JBoVNKvpKyiAMkRFsYWhpzySXg6LRwQhoBUqEkTrcvPLNqvb5pgFX7XJxBI85SZJksponmWx4chccOyo5IyLd4XDAtmHF0vZ2iAcJrps/s1600/BAAAAARMBY.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-X6BgmiyQSlzlIi_zfvJ2TYq7z5uNXaxm0y0JBoVNKvpKyiAMkRFsYWhpzySXg6LRwQhoBUqEkTrcvPLNqvb5pgFX7XJxBI85SZJksponmWx4chccOyo5IyLd4XDAtmHF0vZ2iAcJrps/s400/BAAAAARMBY.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460718777940447506" /></a><br /><a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/little-saint-nick.html">Nick Barmby</a>'s introduction to the fray early in the second half <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/33-hull-city-1-4-burnley-10042010.html">against Burnley</a> last week was <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a>'s biggest mistake of the day.<br /><br />While it would be unjust and inaccurate to say that sending Barmby on directly caused the collapse that everyone has been apologising for this week, there is no doubt that the player's existence as a first team option is done so with misted eyes.<br /><br />Barmby is 36 years old and really, really looks it now. He looks exhausted, fed up and unmotivated. It's a difficult situation when you are introduced to a match that is being contested tightly between two sides that dare not lose, but experience teaches players how to deal with such a situation. Barmby's experience now looks no longer like it can carry him through. He needs to donate more, and he can't.<br /><br />When <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a> got injured, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Kevin Kilbane</a> had to fill in at left back and so a gap was opened on the left side of midfield. Barmby played there with some regularity in both League One and the Championship, smoking cigars of comfort throughout, but simply is not up with the pace and quality that Premier League opponents foist upon you. But Dowie chose what he thought was the safe option and let him loose. Instantly Barmby committed a foul; soon afterwards he was being booked for another. He barely touched the ball, complained a hell of a lot and, surprisingly for a chap who empathises so much with the supporters, did a swift disappearing act at the final whistle.<br /><br />Dowie had better options with <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-man.html">Geovanni</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a>, and although he did later bring on the Brazilian, swapping flanks with Barmby in the process, he should have done so the moment Dawson went down. Seven players hogged the bench and Geovanni was distantly the most talented. The game was level and tight and needed inspiration which <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/see-you-jimmy.html">Jimmy Bullard</a> didn't seem inclined to provide. Geovanni might not have done so either, but there was more than a fighting chance that he could, something which Barmby simply does not give any more.<br /><br />Barmby has been a fabulous footballer and had a terrific, varied career. His story, when he publishes it, will be an intriguing and lucrative one. But the contract expires this summer and even if City are in the Championship, the time will have come for the club to ask him to take up a fresh role, one that doesn't involve kicking a ball - indeed, his current one doesn't involve much kicking of a ball even when he is on the pitch. <br /><br />The moment he accepts it is over for him as a player we can all immediately remember just how great a player he was. At the moment, we seem to have forgotten.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-85959269056228894492010-04-15T10:08:00.018+01:002010-04-15T11:18:40.568+01:00Billy and NickyIt is nice to see two former Hull City strikers conspiring, albeit unwittingly, to prevent Leeds United from leaving the tier of football they arrogantly believe is beneath them.<br /><br />At Swindon Town, the most unlikely of the teams challenging for automatic promotion from League One, <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/hello-taylor.html">Billy Paynter</a> cannot stop scoring. At this level, as he proved in his early days at Port Vale, he can be a prolific and reliable centre forward and this season he has been helped by the fairytale that comes with his similarly lethal strike partner Charlie Austin, who was a bricklayer picking up £80 quid extra a week playing for Poole Town last season.<br /><br />Paynter was, in essence, a classic <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/hello-taylor.html">Peter Taylor</a> signing when he joined the Tigers on loan from Port Vale in November 2005. Taylor wanted to develop his side by recruiting from below and turning promising talents into the finished article. He had suffered burned fingers with strikers the year before, despite the heroic promotion into the Championship, as none of his three signings - <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/02/window-of-opportunity.html">Aaron Wilbraham, Delroy Facey and Jon Walters</a> - had worked, with the goals that took City up coming almost entirely from <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/good-luck-stuey.html">Stuart Elliott</a> from wide positions. So alongside Paynter there were already question marks as the player himself was still unpacking his boots.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8QEkCkPaZDnBSjuZwWc22A8ESNexRbULZAGe53uJPTGBToq-CechuRmeY-YF3yWSBpV8BEGSPZX2s89zGiVNbhCnwPcfCSU5IoHpAcyrHKhuYRqTj-3MeYB05tFS1nPZ_pdZ9YJpch0/s1600/PAYNTER.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8QEkCkPaZDnBSjuZwWc22A8ESNexRbULZAGe53uJPTGBToq-CechuRmeY-YF3yWSBpV8BEGSPZX2s89zGiVNbhCnwPcfCSU5IoHpAcyrHKhuYRqTj-3MeYB05tFS1nPZ_pdZ9YJpch0/s400/PAYNTER.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460306338851388194" /></a><br /><br />Paynter scored in his third game for the Tigers with a soaring header from a <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/10/united-we-fall.html">Mark Lynch</a> cross as City grabbed a handy 2-2 draw at QPR. He then steered in a smart finish from close range at the KC in an impressive 2-0 win over Cardiff City, before hammering in a truly memorable half volley from distance in a Boxing Day draw at Crewe Alexandra that was just as famous for Taylor's oddball substitutions prompting a rather cruel catcall of "you don't know what you're doing" from a Tiger Nation that had conveniently forgotten the two consecutive promotions this manager had already achieved. On New Year's Eve 2005, Paynter hit the woodwork at Leeds United as City lost 2-0.<br /><br />Taylor signed Paynter permanently when the January window opened, but also memorably signed <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/dreaded-stoke.html">Jon Parkin</a> from Macclesfield Town within the same trading period. Parkin's arrival was greeted with great scorn from supporters who remember his comical awfulness in the lower divisions, but Parkin became an instant hero, battering defenders with aplomb while also showing poise and touch and an eye for goal that pushed the nose of Paynter out of joint. It is notable that Paynter played almost entirely as a right-sided midfielder for the remainder of the season, if he was selected at all, and never scored again for the club. Taylor's departure in the summer heralded Paynter's too, with <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/12/mackem-suffer.html">Phil Parkinson</a> choosing to sell him to Southend United upon becoming the new Tigers boss.<br /><br />Parkinson also let <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/01/lions-tamed.html">Ben Burgess</a> go during the same period, meaning he had room to invest in two new centre forwards which, judging by City's cringeworthily poor start to the season, the team needed with urgency. He bought <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/06/so-farewell-then.html">Michael Bridges</a> from Carlisle United and also <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/12/baiting-boro.html">Nicky Forster</a> from Ipswich Town. Forster was a prime example of second tier experience and was just the kind of player City required.<br /><br />As Parkinson's tactical vacuum plunged City into deeper and deeper trouble, however, Forster began to take some stick. He was absent from games for long periods although it was less than helpful that Parkinson had made a panicky switch from possession football to long humps upfield - Forster being a much smaller target than the likes of Bridges and Parkin, as well as Paynter and Burgess.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb8BEePRLYWKF39XoPtra2GGY0syVOYr24NbIS73WVjzQW0ScqHqR8lP2lHwQ-iCqrPpv3fXSlvPoh6vmCu_UVzX32fDW_tprxdNDcPwAczwOmYOmuFJhMrbgS2dsNMaoSxZ3shYPm8M/s1600/FORSTER.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 339px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb8BEePRLYWKF39XoPtra2GGY0syVOYr24NbIS73WVjzQW0ScqHqR8lP2lHwQ-iCqrPpv3fXSlvPoh6vmCu_UVzX32fDW_tprxdNDcPwAczwOmYOmuFJhMrbgS2dsNMaoSxZ3shYPm8M/s400/FORSTER.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460305934287993474" /></a><br /><br />Forster touched in his first goal for City at Colchester United on a Tuesday night, more than two months after his Tigers debut. It was a shinner from little more than a yard that even then he very nearly missed. But it provided us with hope that he would now settle into the ways of Hull City a bit better. None of us reckoned without Colchester's sense of injustice at the way Parkinson walked away from them in the summer to become the new City manager, and they scored five without response and provoked the first serious calls for the new gaffer to be replaced.<br /><br />Parkinson did indeed go a few days later after a similarly catastrophic performance and defeat against Southampton. Even though he and Forster were longtime pals, having played together at Reading, the departure of Parkinson seemed to bring out the best in Forster, as if he now had room to prove that he was no puppet, no signing under the old pals act and still able to commit himself as a professional to a club that had paid quite a sum for an ageing player and expected a return. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/thank-you-phil.html">Phil Brown</a> took over as manager and Forster scored a brave headed equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round against Premier League side Middlesbrough, before putting in a superbly selfless and indefatigable shift in a fantastic replay at the Riverside, winning a penalty and generally stretching the Boro defence throughout. City lost 4-3 but did so from positions of 3-0 and 4-1 down.<br /><br />Forster had the crowd on his side after this display on Teesside. He scored the equaliser in a home game against Leeds United, of all teams, which had become a relegation battle as well as fixture brimming with contempt and mutual dislike. City lost the game 2-1 but Forster's socks were entirely absent at the final whistle from all the running he had undergone.<br /><br />At this point, Parkin had started to go off the rails entirely with his weight and attitude problems and so Forster, along with the re-recruited <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/ten-of-best.html">Dean Windass</a>, became paramount to City's chances. Windass was far more prolific in front of goal but Forster had become revered for his attitude, more so when offered as a stark contrast to that of Parkin, whose presence became so disruptive that Brown packed him off on loan to Stoke City.<br /><br />Forster scored the opener in a fine 2-0 win over Preston North End and added further goals against Wolves and, once more, Colchester (this time a much less damaging 1-1 draw) and maintained his team player mentality as City battled and struggled through inconsistent runs that eventually allowed them to beat Cardiff City in the penultimate game of the campaign and stay up, deliciously at the expense of Leeds.<br /><br />After survival was confirmed, Forster asked to leave City for the benefit of his family, who were still based in the south. Brown allowed him to join Brighton & Hove Albion, from where he has just rejoined Parkinson on a loan deal at Charlton Athletic. They have still to play Leeds as the promotion race hots up in League One.<br /><br />As Hull City players, Paynter and Forster made contributions to games against Leeds that were memorable, if not always for the desired reason. Recently Paynter scored at Elland Road to help Swindon to a stunning - and most amusing - win there, and Forster has now propelled himself via a late loan move into the promotion race, and still has to face Leeds before the season is out. <br /><br />Their impacts on the Tigers were short and variable, but each will be willed on from this part of the world as much as possible, as the only outcome that is good for football is pursued - that which prevents Leeds United from leaving the division they have always loftily claimed is not good enough for them. For that attitude alone they deserve to stay there forever.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-85361249889604468742010-04-13T15:53:00.011+01:002010-04-13T16:24:05.618+01:00See you Jimmy?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehl-SBMui3tweU0hJc5Z4UVH7Mu_DVUkpmkAjE0bv6ip_CIUKj3bx79uGT16LSYeDssvE26pe3Syty5XnvFesZetyGfc2VNRgyoAZdEwWeY1TiGLXihvv7EoKYgAlifg0nc0mSz_2MPw/s1600/BULLARDDOWN.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehl-SBMui3tweU0hJc5Z4UVH7Mu_DVUkpmkAjE0bv6ip_CIUKj3bx79uGT16LSYeDssvE26pe3Syty5XnvFesZetyGfc2VNRgyoAZdEwWeY1TiGLXihvv7EoKYgAlifg0nc0mSz_2MPw/s400/BULLARDDOWN.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459642385901248322" /></a><br />This blog last week implored Hull City to tell us the full story regarding <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/04/hunt-for-truth.html">Stephen Hunt</a>'s foot injury. Too crucial was the player to our hopes of avoiding the drop from the Premier League that it was not acceptable to just drip feed the information.<br /><br />Well, now the club has revealed the situation. And, frankly, Hunt could easily have played his last game for the club.<br /><br />The chippy Irishman is out for the remainder of the season and, in the now depressingly likely event of City's relegation, will undoubtedly be one of the highest earners that <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam Pearson</a> will need to offload from the wage bill come the summer. Unlike some of the other recipients of the bigger wages, Hunt would be able to leave the club with his head held high and the appreciation of the Tiger Nation his to keep forever.<br /><br />It is surprising to note, however, that the same may not apply to <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/jimmy-when-are-you-coming-back.html">Jimmy Bullard</a>, who definitely will leave the club in the event of demotion to the Championship, and may well still do so even if the outside bet of survival comes in. Bullard is suffering right now, but not to the extent that he deserves much sympathy from the Tiger Nation. <br /><br />The upshot of it is that Bullard, probably closer to <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/thank-you-phil.html">Phil Brown</a> than anyone else within the squad the manager left behind when instructed to go push his lawnmower around, has not looked interested or focussed at all since the management regime changed. He still receives the ball with the same frequency and, of course, is by far and away the best creative force in the side. But his play at the moment is weak and limp and he is proving something of a liability.<br /><br />He hasn't got fitness, or the continued re-acquisition of, as an excuse any more. Since returning from his latest injury he has played enough games and run enough yardage to restore the fitness levels he needs. There is more to it than this. He not only looks half-hearted, he seems frightened.<br /><br />His last injury was to his previously "good" knee, meaning that Bullard now has ligament issues in both knees. In recent weeks he has taken to playing deeper and deeper, choosing to release the ball earlier rather than make space with a run or a sidestep, and plays far more square or backward passes than he does forward. There have been a handful of occasions where he has been tackled and subsequently stayed down just long enough for a few hearts to reach mouths, prior to his return to a standing position and continuation of the game.<br /><br />It is a terrible thing to contemplate when one considers the rotten luck he has had, and the transformation to the team he inspired alone when he made his first comeback late last year, but right now the Tigers would be better off without Bullard. Of course it is easier to pick him when the team needs players capable of inspiring vital wins to be involved, but currently Bullard can't do that. The harsher critic would say that he won't do it, for reasons of self-protection and out of loyalty to his golfing partner and former manager. Only Bullard knows the truth, and only Bullard can deny that the latter is true. The continuing stories of Bullard's lack of self-respect as far as his social habits are concerned adds more fuel to the fire.<br /><br />If <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a> has the gall to drop <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html">Jozy Altidore</a> for the impotent <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/folan-victim.html">Caleb Folan</a>, a decision he mercifully realised was wrong very quickly, he should also have the guts to drop Bullard, whose apparent psychological and attitude issues are affecting the team and its immediate future. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/cairney-kick-it-now-he-can.html">Tom Cairney</a> is waiting on the bench, all contracted up and with every desire to help keep the Tigers in the top division. He is a fine craftsman in waiting and will add the belief and nerve that Bullard's contribution hasn't supplied in quite a while. It has seemed for a while that the only people who don't seem to believe in how good he is are the two managers who have had to choose him - or not choose him.<br /><br />And lest we forget that <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-man.html">Geovanni</a>, for all his own fall from grace in recent times, has far more credibility as a forward-thinking creator over the last 12 months than Bullard, in this current form, will ever have. There are alternatives to Bullard. It's a question as to whether Dowie notices them, and whether he then has the bottle to use them.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-51041044849443068782010-04-11T05:27:00.002+01:002010-04-11T05:27:36.952+01:0033: Hull City 1 - 4 Burnley - 10/04/2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCe9Bkqikxig2APBw87AgSRljDkU9MLEhw-nXzYIoHYVZZ5uWtPY3GbmWUhH7wn3B_b8P5Y_wakLVEBtvFawCAMl3QlZfMey-4Slb3i1jMShnBKf2Ns5tpXB4TpvfRAoBlleaPoCBVe4g/s1600/10042010153.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCe9Bkqikxig2APBw87AgSRljDkU9MLEhw-nXzYIoHYVZZ5uWtPY3GbmWUhH7wn3B_b8P5Y_wakLVEBtvFawCAMl3QlZfMey-4Slb3i1jMShnBKf2Ns5tpXB4TpvfRAoBlleaPoCBVe4g/s400/10042010153.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458567215022130530" /></a><br />So, that's that then. Any number of humiliations have been foisted upon the club following Burnley's astounding, devastating victory at the KC Stadium. This is Burnley, a team that had acquired the princely total of just one point away from home all season, managed by the dreaded Brian Laws, outplaying Hull City all over the park.<br /><br />They looked better than the Tigers, they wanted it more, they were more positive, they cared dearly. Barring the initial period of the game, during which time City deceptively opened the scoring, the Tigers were as abject as it was possible to be. That such a turgid, dismal, gutless display came in a game when professionalism and heart was so badly needed and with the knowledge that a winner would give their survival hopes a major shot in the arm, suggests that the Premier League dream ended today.<br /><br />Burnley were level before half time and won two penalties midway through the second half which were each confidently struck home by Graham Alexander. Upon the second of these spot kicks finding the net, the Tigers just wilted. Passes went astray, tackles were avoided, heads dropped or were just entirely lost. Some of the football from <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-new-leader.html">Iain Dowie</a>'s men was beyond awful. The upward mobility of the club over the last decade means it has been a while since a home crowd has booed a performance quite so heftily as they did today, but nobody could fail to understand the upset this display has caused.<br /><br />Make no mistake, it was a shambles. Beyond that, it was a disgrace. The players didn't have a thing. By the time Burnley scored their fourth with a speculative free kick in injury time, the stadium was half empty and those who had stayed were, Burnley's ecstatic support aside, doing so purely to barrack the players. The money they are paid, coupled with the financial meltdown that could follow if the club is relegated, means that they cannot and should not complain for being treated so uncharitably.<br /><br />Dowie picked a good side, it seemed. He got the call up front right, dropping the horrific <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/folan-victim.html">Caleb Folan</a> and restoring the far more effective <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html">Jozy Altidore</a>. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/window-lean.html">Ibrahima Sonko</a> returned to defence after being ineligible last week, and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/andy-is-still-handy.html">Andy Dawson</a> was fit to return to left back. Shuffles elsewhere saw <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/mcshane-central.html">Paul McShane</a> and <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/yesterdays-mendy.html">Bernard Mendy</a> restored to their preferred positions on the right while <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Kevin Kilbane</a> played on the left. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/by-george-they-got-it-right.html">George Boateng</a> was fit to start despite having half his face kicked off a week ago.<br /><br />City took an early lead and duly fooled us all about how they would approach the game. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/jimmy-when-are-you-coming-back.html">Jimmy Bullard</a> was fouled by the referee saw an advantage as <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/fagans-final-felony.html">Craig Fagan</a> took over possession and slipped a ball wide for Altidore to break the offside trap. The American's cross was gorgeous and there was Kilbane to head in unchallenged. It was his first goal for the club and as timely a moment to get it as any player could have managed.<br /><br />So the script that we had all written prior to the game - dangerous to make assumptions, but the KC had been a good venue for the Tigers in 2010 while Burnley, lest we forget, had not won away all season - seemed to be on its predictable course. But City sat back way too much and barely got the chance to get forward effectively again. Burnley got into the game with Tyrone Mears hitting a distant left-footer over the bar and David Nugent cut inside McShane to shoot tamely at <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-myhill-versus-duke-again.html">Boaz Myhill</a>. The final efforts did not worry City but the possession ratio should have done.<br /><br />Fagan had a chance he barely knew about when a long Sonko throw beat two aerial attempts to head clear and pretty much hit the unaware City forward as opposed to anything else. City then won a free kick in a promising position but Bullard's flick up and shot proved too ambitious and went over. The best real opportunity to extend the lead then came when Altidore turned divinely inside the box and hit his shot against Brian Jensen, with Bullard's follow up steered inches over the bar.<br /><br />Burnley sensed their opportunity was approaching and took control of the game. The equaliser came in the final ten minutes of the half when Wade Elliott crossed low at the second attempt and Martin Paterson had time and room to turn in the box and guide a low shot beyond Myhill's right hand.<br /><br />Little occurred up to half time thereafter, apart from Altidore being booked for petulance after giving away a free kick, and although City had not been good, the way Burnley failed to settle quickly suggested there was an opportunity to kill the game off in the second half. That was the optimist's view. And the optimist was soon keeping his counsel.<br /><br />Soon after the restart, City were forced into a change when Dawson hurt his trailing leg in a fairly straightforward block tackle and was replaced by <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/little-saint-nick.html">Nick Barmby</a>, with Kilbane dropping back. Barmby's first contribution was to concede a free kick on the edge of the box and Mears' shot was deflected off the wall, wrongfooting Myhill but just clearing the bar. Paterson then put in a cross that ex-City defender <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/01/dont-get-caught-get-cort.html">Leon Cort</a>, still up from a corner, plunged to reach but couldn't make contact. The ball got to Michael Duff at the far post whose control was shabby and shot hurried over the bar. A more cultured player would have scored. The Tiger Nation were not happy.<br /><br />Fagan then crossed for Altidore to challenge Jensen in the box, with the burly keeper chasing the loose ball to the edge of the area and blocking Bullard's volleyed effort with his hand while perilously close to leaving his area. It was risky but sound goalkeeping. Mendy and Fagan were then booked for retribution and not retreating respectively as the game threatened to degenerate into something unwatchable.<br /><br />Then Burnley took the lead. Duff, wearing a numberless shirt after spilling some blood in the first half, was chopped down by <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/go-go-mouyokolo.html">Steven Mouyokolo</a> as the visitors tried to make room for a shot. Some grumbles, but it was hard to make a claim of any conviction that the penalty was wrong. Alexander, with his idiosyncratic method of approaching penalties, sent Myhill the wrong way with the outside of his boot.<br /><br />Now there was a problem. City had gone behind but once the game restarted, it soon became obvious there was little appetite or idea as far as getting back into the match was concerned. Fagan could have scored when he sliced a half volley wide from Sonko's flick but that was all. Dowie tried to freshen up the attack by throwing <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-man.html">Geovanni</a> into the action, withdrawing McShane and sending Mendy back, but the Brazilian could not exercise any influence before Burnley had it sewn up.<br /><br />Nugent seemed to handle the ball near halfway as he brought it under control, but once play was waved on he proceeded to weave through three wimpish efforts to bring him to a halt and had almost got to the byline in the box by the time Mendy hauled him down. It was a fine run but City's defence reacted appallingly. Mendy was lucky not to get a second yellow for the foul and Alexander used the same unusual method and the same corner of the net to defeat Myhill - who again dived the other way - and establish a two-goal lead. The Burnley fans, understandably, could not have been more gleeful if they tried.<br /><br />City began to get petty and angry, but in a negative way. There was no sign of channeling that fierce energy into anything positive. Barmby was booked for a foul and had no right to moan at the decision as much as he did, Bullard dropped further and further back and began, remarkably but not entirely without reason, to take some stick from the furious Tiger Nation. The midfielder had hidden for much of the second half and now didn't seem to want to dictate the pace and direction of the game in the way everyone knows he can, and just at a time when it was required.<br /><br />Dowie took Fagan off and sent on <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/rumour-mongering.html">Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink</a>, who quickly made a great chance for Altidore with a low cross shot but the American couldn't wrap his foot around the ball enough at the far post and the opportunity went begging. Altidore then made room for a shot from distance which was blocked, with Bullard's low follow up dribbling disappointingly wide.<br /><br />By now, the final balls were as dreadful as we had seen in years and City were resorting to long punts that Cort, as the Tiger Nation remembers only too well, eats up for a light breakfast. Burnley were totally comfortable. Their fans fell off the happiness measurement scale and no doubt Laws, a manager with little love for City, was dying to leap up and down and rub it in the faces of all wearing black and amber.<br /><br />Five minutes were added and Elliott scored a peculiar fourth when he took a shot from a wide free kick, on the reasonable understanding that a two-goal lead meant he didn't have to waste any time, and the ball looped over a surprised Myhill. The final whistle that came soon afterwards was greeted with loud heckles and ironic applause. The players, with the exception of Mouyokolo and Altidore, vanished down the tunnel as swiftly and as cowardly as they could.<br /><br />Problems, then. This isn't the end, of course, although the game in hand is now irrelevant as West Ham United won and so City are now relying on others to make a contribution to what seems an unlikely claim to survival. Too many players failed to react to the importance of the occasion and now one hopes they feel some regret for throwing away a huge, huge chance to stay in command of their own destiny. <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-on-adam.html">Adam Pearson</a>'s gamble on a change of manager has, for the first time, backfired massively on him. Five games remain and in all honesty, City need to go unbeaten in the first four of them to keep hopes up, yet right now they seem unlikely to win again at all.<br /><br />Well done to Burnley. They wanted this so much and got precisely what they deserved. It remains to be seen whether this historic win will ultimately prove a false dawn for them, but they have given themselves a chance. It is the act of a churl who does not wish them well after such a display, especially as any sour grapes will stem from the knowledge that Burnley's players did exactly what the Tiger Nation expected their players to do.<br /><br />To be a fly on the wall of <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/thank-you-phil.html">Phil Brown</a>'s drawing room right now...Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5771838493863663810.post-17233850983451203292010-04-10T09:08:00.011+01:002010-04-11T05:29:06.727+01:00Jay Jay<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurGr8AZNkuMVvGj3Jd0HpQ-mjXRxYU-dNg1FauxK4N-GNQ7vjckAw-NGSzoy7R31rULvnSMyKSwV_d6X63XKaK_VRhp2sOYA92VHbC3IWja8Adkt1G0gbFS2rQv_pN4tW9-ctRsRGD0Q/s1600/OKOCHA.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurGr8AZNkuMVvGj3Jd0HpQ-mjXRxYU-dNg1FauxK4N-GNQ7vjckAw-NGSzoy7R31rULvnSMyKSwV_d6X63XKaK_VRhp2sOYA92VHbC3IWja8Adkt1G0gbFS2rQv_pN4tW9-ctRsRGD0Q/s400/OKOCHA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458431926777344050" /></a><br />We need today's enormous game against Burnley to go without a hitch. Given that we are Hull City, a club that has made it a 106 year long habit not to do things straightforwardly, we should still expect something unexpected to happen. Hopefully it won't extend to Burnley actually taking anything from the match, and the unexpected can be good - a <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-in-garden-looks-jozy.html">Jozy Altidore</a> hat-trick, for example - as well as bad.<br /><br />Last time we played Burnley at the KC it was a raucous old affair, characterised by a marvellous half of football from the Tigers that had the game won, and then a bizarre breakdown in discipline from both sides in the second half that saw three players sent off.<br /><br />One of these players was <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/12/ten-nine-eight.html">Jay Jay Okocha</a>, and this red card was the only statistic aside from the 18 Championship appearances he would eventually card up for the Tigers by the end of the season. That he never scored - and, in truth, rarely created - a goal for City during his brief time with the club makes the sending off all the more bizarre.<br /><br />It was March 2008 and the Tigers were sniffing a play-off place at the very least under <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/thank-you-phil.html">Phil Brown</a>. Okocha had joined as a 34 year old free agent in the September and had sporadically contributed to a slowly growing side mainly by name alone, frightening opposition players via his very existence. Obviously though, there were still occasions when he did frighteningly amazing things with a football.<br /><br />At Wolves, a mere fortnight after joining, he ran the show so effortlessly that he was applauded off by the whole of Molineux when substituted late on. His only error was trying to get the ball off <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/ten-of-best.html">Dean Windass</a> when the penalty that won the match was awarded to City.<br /><br />Okocha had made his debut as a substitute the week before in a 1-1 draw with Stoke City at the KC Stadium. City were a goal down when he came on, and he spent his time on the pitch hitting pinpoint passes, long and short, shooting from impossible angles and at unexpected moments, and generally being a total thrill as well as a ridiculous novelty for a team that had relied on <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/piece-of-parlour.html">Ray Parlour</a> as its veteran creator the year before. City got a late equaliser which had nothing to do with Okocha, unless Stoke were worried in advance about whether he would get the ball and therefore didn't notice where else it could go. It was <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/12/well-support-you-livermore.html">David Livermore</a> who scored with a close range header.<br /><br />The other notable occasion for Okocha came on a blustery February evening at Norwich City. Again the game ended 1-1, which at this stage of the campaign was a very useful point for a Tigers team starting to believe that climbing the table was possible, and Okocha's glorious touch, appreciation of where the ball and the target player was and general smoothness in possession prompted the Norwich manager Glenn Roeder to pay a tribute afterwards that bordered on the obsequious and got a lot of headlines.<br /><br />The rest of Okocha's time saw him dragged down a little by the demands of a less silky brand of football than that to which he was used. Often Brown wouldn't play him at all, and sometimes he would be on the bench. He did have injuries too, not least at the end of the season when he missed the run-in and the eventual play-off glory, but ten starts and eight appearances via the bench doesn't sound very much for a player drizzling with such special ability. For all that, City won the play-offs without him, beating at <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2008/08/this-is-what-its-all-about.html">Wembley</a> a Bristol City side that had taken four points off the Tigers during the regular season. In those two games, Okocha had been involved, albeit as a sub midway through the second half on each occasion. He was there at Wembley, in his training gear supporting the team, and was the first on to the pitch in the sponsors' T-shirt to congratulate the players on promotion to the Premier League. Brown chose to release him afterwards, and was right to do so.<br /><br />And so to the red card, the last and only non-playing stat against Okocha's name. It had been a brilliant evening. City had played their most dominant half of football in years, with goals from <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/09/hero-and-villain.html">Fraizer Campbell</a> and a 25 yard strike from <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/garcias-got-it.html">Richard Garcia</a> (the goal of the season, even allowing for volleys at Wembley) securing a 2-0 half time lead against a Burnley team lacking any discernible interest in the competition.<br /><br />The second half had been equally City's but without any further goals. Then <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/folan-victim.html">Caleb Folan</a> gave Stephen Caldwell an elbow off the ball and walked, with Caldwell getting yellow for the niggliness that preceded it. Caldwell himself got a second yellow and left the field a few minutes later after fouling Campbell. So, it was ten versus ten.<br /><br />And then it was nine versus ten. Okocha stood innocently over another Burnley player in a horizontal position, Joey Gudjonsson, and even though the referee (Mike Riley, later to endear himself even less to the Tiger Nation with his antics at <a href="http://boyhood-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/03/fa-cup-sixth-round-arsenal-2-1-hull.html">Arsenal in the FA Cup</a>) saw nothing and had to consult a linesman, whose lack of excessive flagging suggested he had been equally unsighted, the two of them somehow concluded that Okocha had committed a heinous enough crime to receive a straight red card. The KC Stadium had never raged more in its short life than on that evening. Gudjonsson's own dismissal afterwards, making it nine versus nine, merely confirmed the farce that had unfurled itself.<br /><br />And, apart from an 89th minute substitute appearance at Colchester United immediately after his three match ban had expired, we never saw Okocha in a City shirt again as injury took over. It had ended rather unfavourably for him, and he didn't have the impact many would have expected from a man of his phenomenal talent and experience, but the very fact that he made a contribution, small but noticeable, to our most triumphant season will live with a generation of Tigers fans forever.<br /><br />Meanwhile, today's game against Burnley is very different, even though Garcia and Folan remain in the squad, among others, from the last time these two met. It'd be nice if we could replicate the dominance and goals and not the red cards.Boyhood Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17624940532266279168noreply@blogger.com